title: Serum levels of IL-17 in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis: a preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic and often severe form of bilateral tarsal and/or bulbar conjunctivitis. The purpose of the present study is to measure the Interleukin-17 (IL-17) serum levels in children with VKC evaluating the role of the systemic inflammation in patients affected by VKC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients were enrolled with VKC aged between 6 and 10 years of life. Serum were obtained from the peripheral blood samples collected from all the children included in the study to evaluate serum level of IL-17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of IL-17 were significantly higher in patients with VKC than in healthy controls (10.3 ± 9.36 pg/ml vs. 3.3 ± 6.20 pg/ml respectively; p < 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of a significantly higher level of IL-17 in patients with VKC suggests a possible role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of VKC. Further studies on larger samples of patients are warranted to confirm These findings in order to identify new possible therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zicari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nebbioso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zicari
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Occasi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tubili
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duse
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17