Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate whether a new commercial micoarray test for the measurement of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, could be used for the diagnosis of allergic sensitization in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).
Methods: :
Serum and tears samples were collected from 10 active VKC patients (3 females, 7 males) and 10 age-matched normal subjects. Skin prick test, symptoms score and full ophthalmological examination were performed. Specific serum and tear IgE were assayed using ImmunoCAP ISAC, a microarray containing 103 components derived from 47 allergens.
Results: :
Normal subjects resulted negative for the presence of specific IgE both in serum and in tears. Of the 10 VKC patients, 6 resulted positive to specific IgE. In 3 of these 6 patients, specific IgE were found positive only in tears. Cross reactivity between specific markers were found in 3 patients. Grass, tree, mites, animal but also food allergen specific IgE were found in tears. Conjunctival provocation test performed out of season confirmed the specific local conjunctival reactivity.
Conclusions: :
Multiple specific IgE measurements with single protein allergens using a microarray technique in tear samples is a useful, simple and non-invasive diagnostic tool. ImmunoCAP ISAC detects allergen sensitization at component level and adds important information by defining both cross and co-sensitization to a large variety of allergen molecules. The presence of specific IgE only in tears of VKC patients reinforce the concept of possible local sensitization.
Keywords: conjunctivitis • cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • inflammation