title: Angiographic Evaluation of Inflammation in Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Grading of disease activity in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) is limited by intra- and inter-observer variability. The aim of this study was to identify angiographic parameters to help evaluate inflammation and disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 12 patients (4 with active, 2 with inactive AKC, and 6 controls), disease activity were assessed using a validated biomicroscopic grading scale. Imaging of upper tarsal conjunctiva was undertaken using color photography, fluorescein (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Extravascular ICG leakage only occurred in patients with active disease (mean 84.6 ± 28.8 s) except in one patient with inactive disease but only after 6 min. Transepithelial leakage of fluorescein occurred in all patients with active AKC (mean 63.5 ± 17.8 s) but not in patients with inactive disease or controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conjunctival transepithelial leakage of fluorescein and extravascular interstitial accumulation of ICG may be useful markers of disease activity patients in AKC.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Medical University of Innsbruck , Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.affiliation: b Department of Corneal and External Eye Diseases , St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital , Liverpool , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: b Department of Corneal and External Eye Diseases , St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital , Liverpool , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kaye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green
keywords: Angiography; atopic keratoconjunctivitis; disease activity grading