title: Mast cell hyperplasia in atopic keratoconjunctivitis. An immunohistochemical study.
abstract: Immunohistochemical staining of conjunctival biopsies from four normal subjects and five patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) was performed, using a monoclonal antibody to human mast cell tryptase. A massive hyperplasia of mast cells in the patients with AKC was demonstrated. The mean mast cell density in the normal patients was 55.6/mm2 and in the patients with AKC, 172/mm2. The appearance of large numbers of mast cells in the conjunctival epithelium of AKC patients was also demonstrated. The possible pathophysiological significance of these findings is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Pathology, Southampton General Hospital.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Holgate
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000473:pathology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014048:Tolonium Chloride