Posters

Assessment of eosinophils in conjunctiva in patients with allergic conjunctivitis with negative allergic tests

Poster Details

First Author: J.Janiszewska-Salamon POLAND

Co Author(s): W. Lubon   A. Urgacz-Lechowicz   R. Gawlik   E. Mrukwa-Kominek           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The incidence of allergic conjunctivitis is increasing. The medical interview, physical examination, skin prick tests, the quantity of total immunoglobulin E, and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in the blood are essential tools in the diagnostics of ocular allergy. However, in clinical practice there are patients with clinical signs of allergic conjunctivitis and negative allergy test results. Isolated allergic conjunctivitis creates large diagnostic problems.The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of eosinophils in the conjunctiva in patients with clinical signs of allergic conjunctivitis with negative allergic test results

Setting:

1Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland2Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinical Center, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland

Methods:

Ten patients with typical symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis with negative skin prick tests to common aeroallergens and normal levels of total immunoglobulin E and no allergen specific immunoglobulin E antibodies in the blood were included to the study group. The control group consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. All patients underwent conjunctival biopsy. The presence of eosinophilis was assessed by light microscopy.

Results:

The eosinophil number was 9.3 cells / mm2 (min 3, max 21) in the control group and 1 eosinophilia / mm2 was present in one patient (10% of the control group). Eosinophilicity was observed in the conjuctival simples. A significantly higher number of eosinophils was observed (p = 0.00002). A significantly higher number of eosinophils was observed in the study group than in the control group

Conclusions:

The presence of eosinophils in the extracted conjunctiva in patients with clinical manifestations of allergic conjunctivitis with negative results of skin prick tests and with normal level of total immunoglobulin E and no allergen specific immunoglobulin E antibodies in the blood assay confirms the presence of isolated ocular allergy

Financial Disclosure:

None