title: Climatic Droplet Keratopathy in Argentina: Involvement of Environmental Agents in Its Genesis Which Would Open the Prospect for New Therapeutic Interventions.
abstract: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is a degenerative corneal disease of unknown etiology. We described CDK for the first time in Latin America in the Argentinean Patagonia (El Cuy). A deeper knowledge of CDK pathogenic mechanisms will provide new therapeutic strategies. For that reason we investigated the prevalence of CDK in El Cuy and its existence in other 3 provinces with similar climate. Patients eyes were examined, habits throughout lives were inquired about, and serum ascorbate (sAA) was determined. All individuals work outdoors for most of the day. All regions had normal O3 levels. Individuals from regions 1, 2, and 3 had very low consumption of vegetables/fruits and low sAA levels. Conversely, region 4 individuals had balanced diet and higher sAA concentrations. CDK was only found in region 3 where individuals had partial deficiency of sAA and did not use eye protection. No CDK was found in regions 1 and 2 where individuals had similar work activities and dietary habits to those in region 3 but wear eye protection. No disease was found in region 4 where individuals work outdoors, have balanced diet, and use eye protection. To summarize, the CDK existence was related not only to climate but also to the dietary habits and lack of protection from sunlight.
authors.affiliation: CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre esquina Medina Allende, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Oncativo 1248, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Oncativo 1248, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crim
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Oncativo 1248, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Evangelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espósito
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Oncativo 1248, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Oncativo 1248, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Julio Alberto
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Urrets-Zavalía
authors.affiliation: CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre esquina Medina Allende, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Horacio Marcelo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013472:Sunlight; D055815:Young Adult