Correlations between allergen-specific IgE serum levels in patients with ocular allergy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular allergies of patients seen at the Hospital do Servidor Publico Estadual de Sao Paulo (HSPE) and correlations with serum allergen specific immunoglobulin E levels.

Methods: We performed a longitudinal study of patients with ocular allergy who were treated at a Cornea and Immunology and Allergy Department. Patients underwent an ophthalmologic examination to identify their main presenting signs and symptoms. The eye allergy types were divided into four groups. We conducted the following laboratory tests: blood count, serum total IgE and specific IgE.

Results: We examined 61 patients, 16 (26.2%) with clinical diagnosis of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, 23 (37.7%) patients with perennial allergic conjunctivitis, 19 (31.1%) patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and 3 (4.9%) with atopic keratoconjunctivitis. The Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (dp) antigen was positive in 93.9% of patients, followed by mixed dust mites (D. pteronyssinus, D. Farina, Blattella Germanica, house dust) in 93.8% of patients and Blomia tropicalis in 78.8% of patients.

Conclusions: Perennial allergic conjunctivitis was the most prevalent disorder and showed higher positivity in class V/VI for the specific antigens mixed dust mites (HX2), D. pteronyssinus. and D. farinea.