Vernal keratoconjunctivitis-like disease in adults.

Purpose: To identify clinical, demographic, immunologic, and health-related quality-of-life data from a cohort of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients with the onset of the disease after puberty (VKC-like disease).

Design: Retrospective, observational case series.

Methods: Forty-nine patients with late-onset VKC-like disease from among 600 consecutive VKC patients.

Histamine H4 receptors in normal conjunctiva and in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Background: While it is known that histamine is the primary mediator of ocular allergy, the presence and distribution of histamine receptors are not well documented in the human eye. Our aim was to evaluate histamine receptor expression in normal and vernal keratoconjunctivitis conjunctiva.

Methods: Mucosal biopsies were obtained from conjunctiva of healthy donors and from tarsal conjunctiva of vernal patients.

Transforming growth factor-β/Smad - signalling pathway and conjunctival remodelling in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic ocular allergic inflammation characterized by corneal complications and the formation of giant papillae. Sma- and Mad-related proteins (Smad) modulate extracellular matrix gene expression during wound healing, inflammation and tissue remodelling.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between allergic inflammation and TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway, expression in VKC patients and in primary cultured conjunctival fibroblasts exposed to mediators found previously over-expressed in VKC.

Allergy and the eye.

The eye represents an ideal and frequent site for the allergic reactions. The term 'allergic conjunctivitis' refers to a collection of disorders that affect the lid, conjunctiva and/or cornea. Even though the diagnosis is essentially clinical, local tests such as cytology, conjunctival provocation and tear mediator analysis can be performed.

Immunopathogenesis of ocular allergy: a schematic approach to different clinical entities.

Purpose Of Review: The immunopathogenesis of ocular allergic disorders is generally related to the specific immunoglobulin E-mediated mast cell activation and the following cascade of inflammatory mediators. Seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis, however, are the only ocular diseases to involve solely type I hypersensitivity. The other main forms, vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis, have a more complex immunological basis and a chronic inflammatory component.

Matrix metalloproteases in vernal keratoconjunctivitis, nasal polyps and allergic asthma.

Background: Allergic conditions in different organs share many similarities in their inflammatory response. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), asthma and nasal polyps exhibit several similar, but site-specific mucosal structural changes. The aim of the study was to investigate whether matrix metalloproteases contribute to different tissue remodelling aspects in different organs.

Case series of 406 vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients: a demographic and epidemiological study.

Purpose: To evaluate the specific allergic sensitization and epidemiological characteristics of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

Methods: This retrospective non-comparative case series included 406 VKC patients. Data included patient and family histories, and results of allergic tests.

Altered expression of neurotransmitter receptors and neuromediators in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Background: There is growing evidence that autonomic innervation is involved in the pathogenesis of mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell hyperplasia, and conjunctival hyperreactivity.

Objective: To determine the expression of neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter receptors in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) tissues to evaluate whether neurogenic inflammation plays a role in this ocular atopic-related disorder.

Methods: Biopsy specimens of upper tarsal conjunctiva from 8 VKC patients with active inflammation and from 4 healthy subjects were processed for immunohistochemistry using anti-M1, anti-M2, and anti-M3 muscarinic receptors; beta1-adrenergic receptor; vasoactive intestinal peptide; nerve growth factor; and protein gene product 9.