Clinical signs and symptoms are not enough for the correct diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis.
BACKGROUND
Allergic Conjunctivitis (AC) has a high incidence in the general population and sometimes it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis, distinguish among the different subtypes of AC, and therefore, to indicate the suitable therapy.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the best way to carry out an appropriate diagnosis of AC.


METHODS
Thirty-one patients with clinical manifestations of AC and eleven controls were studied by measuring allergic and immunologic parameters. Only those patients confirmed as having AC were treated with ketotifen fumarate and further evaluated.


RESULTS
According to allergic and immunological parameters, patients were divided into two groups. Group I patients had positive prick test toward at least one allergen, 60% exhibited high levels of tear-IgE, and only 36% conjunctival eosinophils. By contrast, patients from Group II had negative prick tests and laboratory findings similar to the control group. In group I there was a good correlation between levels of tear-IgE and eosinophils (r = 0.55; p = 0.009); key symptoms and signs and prick test (r = 0.52; p = 0.015), and prick test and eosinophils (r = 0.50 p = 0.022). The cardinal signs and symptoms scores dropped significantly in Group I as a consequence of the treatment (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In order to have a reliable AC diagnosis, allergen-skin prick test, IgE in tears, and conjunctival eosinophils must be studied. Serum IgE is less important.
Dpto. Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
A
A
Martín
E
E
Gomez Demel
J
J
Gagliardi
A
A
Berra
A L
AL
Mariani
C E
CE
Baena Cagnani
M C
MC
Daraio
J
J
Urrets-Zavalia
E
E
Urrets-Zavalia
N
N
Gallino
H M
HM
Serra
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry
D007073:Immunoglobulin E