Publication: Tearfilm immunoglobulin E (IgE) level in vernal keratoconjunctivitis by ELISA
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is recurrent chronic allergic conjunctivitis occurring in the prepubertal
age-group with secondary involvement of the cornea and is self-limiting in character. The disease is prevalent world-
wide but it shows predominance in the areas with dry and warm climate including the South Asia. VKC represents
about 3% of the serious ophthalmic disease in some parts of the world where the prevalence is rate is high.Type I
hypersensitivity reaction which is IgE-dependent and type IV hypersensitivity reaction have been implicated for the
pathogenesis VKC.
Objective: To determine level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the tear film of patients with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
(VKC) attending outpatient department of BP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies (BPKLCOS).
Materials and methods: Thirty-four VKC patients and thirty-four controls were included in this study. Tear samples
were collected using micro- capillary glass tube method and tear IgE levels were measured using an enzyme – linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: There was high concentration of tear IgE level in VKC (95.09IU/ml) than in controls (1.63IU/ml) though the
difference was not statistically significant (p=0.16). No statistically significant difference was observed in male and
female gender within VKC group and when compared with control group (in male group, p=0.21 and in female group,
p=0.26). There was no statistically significant difference observed in tear IgE level in different age groups within VKC
group and when compared with control group (p=0.30). The result did not show any significant difference in tear IgE
level with respect to the duration of the disease (p=0.23).There was no statistically significant difference in tear IgE level
with different episodes of VKC (p=0.69). No statistically significant difference of IgE concentration in tear was seen
among different types of VKC (p=0.53) and grades of tarsal and limbal papillae (p= 0.72).
Conclusion: There was high concentration of tear IgE level observed in VKC.
Key words: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis, Tearfilm, IgE level, Type I hypersensitivity reaction, Type IV hupersensitivity
reaction.
Description
Pokharel S1, Shah DN 2, Joshi SN 3, Choudhary M 4
1 Lecturer, Ophthalmology Department, Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal, 2 Professor, 3 Associate Professor, 4 Lecturer, Ophthalmology Department, Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Nepal.