Posters

Evaluation of symptoms of ocular surface with allergen provocation test in patients with allergic conjunctivitis and negative skin prick tests

Poster Details

First Author: M.Martinez Hergueta SPAIN

Co Author(s): M. Mart�nez Rubio   V. Soriano Gomis   A. Ceausescu              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Ocular allergic symptoms are often found in patients with negative allergen skin prick tests and undetectable levels of serum specific IgE (sIgE). Previous researches have reported a lack correlation between serum sIgE and ocular allergy, suggesting that the sIgE detected in the eye is most likely produced locally. We try to determine the utility of the Conjunctival Allergen Provocation Test (CAPT) with allergen in patients with ocular symptoms but with negative skin prick tests and serum sIgE.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology and Allergy Service. Alicante General University Hospital, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche (Alicante), Spain.

Methods:

A prospective observational study that included 20 cases with signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis with negative results to skin prick tests (SPT) and sIgE measurement to common perennial allergen Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DPT). In addition, two control group, one positive control of 3 patients with signs and symptoms and CAPT positive and a negative control of 3 patients without signs or symptoms. The CAPT was performed with this allergen (DTP) studying the conjunctival redness by photography and recording the total ocular symptoms score (TOSS) (range: 0 - 13 and positive over acumulative score of 5).

Results:

Of the 20 patients analyzed, 2 were positive for the CAPT. The mean age of the two CAPT positives was lower than those with CAPT negative (P<0.006), as well as the age of onset of symptoms which was earlier in the CAPT positive group, but without statistically significant differences. The analogical visual scale (AVE) questionnaire greater than 5 was obtained in 100% of patients with positive CAPT.

Conclusions:

In a population with a very suspicious clinical history of perennial conjunctivitis, a CAPT may offers a new diagnostic opportunity to discover the sensitization, when other standard diagnostic tests have not given any positive results.

Financial Disclosure:

None