title: Case series of 406 vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients: a demographic and epidemiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the specific allergic sensitization and epidemiological characteristics of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective non-comparative case series included 406 VKC patients. Data included patient and family histories, and results of allergic tests. Annual incidence and prevalence rates were calculated for a cohort of 128 VKC patients from the greater Padua area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The great majority of VKC patients were male (76%), with a male : female ratio of 3.3 : 1. A skin prick test, specific serum IgE or conjunctival challenge was positive in 43%, 56% and 58% of patients, respectively. In the cohort of patients from the Padua area, the prevalence of the disease was 7.8/100,000, with a higher rate in young males (57/100,000) compared with young females (22/100,000), and lower rates in people over 16 years of age (3.8/100,000 in males, 1/100,000 in females). The incidence of VKC was 1/100,000, with a higher rate in males under 16 years of age (10/100,000) compared with females (4.2/100,000). In people over 16 years of age, the incidence of the disease was 0.06/100,000, with no difference between males and females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An IgE-mediated sensitization was found in only half of the VKC patients. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is not a rare event in the paediatric population but is an extremely rare new disease in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Clinical Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. andrea.leonardi@unipd.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Busca
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Motterle
authors.forename: Fabiano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavarzeran
authors.forename: Iva A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Fregona
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Secchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E