title: Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. A prognostic sign for severe Graves ophthalmopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis in a relatively large group of patients and to determine whether a relation exists with thyroid dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 57 patients with superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis who were examined between 1980 and 1993 were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients (64.9%; 95% confidence interval, 51.1-77.1) had objective evidence of thyroid dysfunction. Of patients with superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis and thyroid disease, 33 (89.2%) had ophthalmopathy, which in 16 patients (48.5%) was sufficiently severe to require orbital decompression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis is associated with thyroid dysfunction and appears to be a prognostic marker for severe Graves ophthalmopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kadrmas
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bartley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis