Alergia ocular: tipos, edad de aparición, prevalencia y morbilidad / Ocular allergy: types, age of onset, prevalence and morbidity

Introducción: La alergia es el desorden más común del sistema inmunitario. En las últimas décadas, la prevalencia de las enfermedades alérgicas ha aumentado de forma considerable en todos los países. Objetivo: Describir el contexto actual de la alergia ocular para la realización de un diagnóstico precoz, una identificación temprana de los subtipos, un adecuado manejo terapéutico y un control de la severidad. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de la literatura científica de mayor impacto con el uso de las palabras clave. Se limitó la búsqueda por tipo de diseño (revisiones, series de casos, estudios descriptivos, analíticos y experimentales, metaanálisis). No se tuvo en cuenta el idioma de la publicación. Las bases de datos utilizadas fueron: PubMed, Ebsco Host, Lilacs y Science Direct. Se identificaron y se evaluaron 114 artículos, de los cuales se seleccionaron 24 por su pertinencia para el estudio. Conclusiones: La alergia ocular es uno de los trastornos oculares más comunes encontrados en las consultas pediátricas y oftalmológicas. Si bien en la mayoría de los casos se trata de formas leves, estas pueden interferir en la calidad de vida del paciente. Es importante que estos pacientes con manifestaciones oftalmológicas de alergia se remitan al alergólogo para detectar otra patología, que, asociada al padecimiento alérgico, origine los síntomas que suelen ser graves, con una duración y frecuencia importantes(AU)

Introduction: Allergy is the most common disorder of the immune system. In recent decades, the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased considerably in all countries. Objective: To describe the current context of ocular allergy in order to make an early diagnosis, an early identification of subtypes, establish an adequate therapeutic management and control of severity. Methods: A systematic search of the scientific literature with the highest impact was performed using keywords. The search was limited by type of design (reviews, case series, descriptive, analytical and experimental studies, meta-analysis). The language of the publication was not taken into account. The databases used were: PubMed, Ebsco Host, Lilacs and Science Direct. A total of 114 articles were identified and evaluated, of which 24 were selected for their relevance to the study. Conclusions: Ocular allergy is one of the most common ocular disorders encountered in pediatric and ophthalmology consultations. Although in most cases these are mild forms, they can interfere with the patient's quality of life. It is important that these patients with ophthalmologic manifestations of allergy are referred to the Allergist to detect other pathology, which associated with the allergic condition originate the symptoms that are usually severe, with a significant duration and frequency(AU)

Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis as the Only Clinical Manifestation of HIV Infection.

INTRODUCTION: This case report describes an 8 year old boy unsuccessfully treated for years for Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis. CASE REPORT: We report a VKC resistant to all types of treatment known in the literature, such as topical and oral corticosteroids, topical and oral cyclosporine, immunotherapy, and third generation anti-histamine eye drops, due to unknown HIV co-infection. During further laboratory tests, patient tested positive for HIV even though he did not present any clinical manifestation of HIV disease. Only after antiretroviral treatment was started the allergy symptoms completely regressed. CONCLUSION: This case report suggests considering investigation of HIV infection in patients with refractory allergic conjunctivitis.

Surgical debridement of corneal shield ulcers in pediatric patients: two case reports and a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Ocular allergy is a common disease, especially in the pediatric population, with unpleasant and long-term consequences, including corneal complications and decreased visual acuity. This study reports two cases of corneal shield ulcer due to vernal keratoconjunctivitis, with good results of surgical debridement performed after failure of long-term clinical treatment. Furthermore, this study highlights that this therapeutic approach, although less common, is efficient in treating refractory cases that cause suffering in pediatric patients. CASE PRESENTATION: The first patient was a 7-year-old Caucasian boy with chronic ocular allergy, especially photophobia, who had been treated with eye drops, antihistamine, and corticosteroids for 60 days without success. Biomicroscopy of the right eye showed the presence of gelatinous limbus, giant papillae in the tarsal conjunctiva, and a shield ulcer measuring 6.0 mm vertically and 2.7 mm horizontally. Surgical debridement was performed, and the ulcer did not recur. The second patient was a 4-year-old Caucasian boy with chronic ocular allergy, especially itching and photophobia, who had been treated with eye drops for 1 year without success. Biomicroscopy of the left eye showed a shield ulcer, with a dense central corneal plaque, measuring 8 mm vertically and 3.5 mm horizontally. Surgical debridement of the ulcer was performed immediately because of the chronicity of the case and severity of the lesion, and the treatment was effective. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of shield ulcers caused by vernal keratoconjunctivitis in the two reported cases was curative and definitive by surgical debridement in the 7-month follow-up period. Therefore, the early debridement of shield ulcers refractory to drug treatment can considerably reduce the time of disease evolution and the probability of ocular complications caused by clinical treatment or disease chronicity. However, this approach is rarely described in the literature and needs to be included in the ophthalmologist's therapeutic arsenal.

Long-term use of topical tacrolimus ointment: a safe and effective option for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis / Uso prolongado de tacrolimus tópico: opção eficaz e segura no tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite vernal

ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess the compliance, efficacy, and safety of the long-term use of topical tacrolimus for the clinical management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Methods: The medical records of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis undergoing long-term treatment with 0.03% topical tacrolimus were retrospectively reviewed. The duration of tacrolimus use and the causes for drug discontinuation were used to assess treatment compliance. To assess drug efficacy, the need for and the number of times that topical corticosteroids were used to control symptoms were registered. Side effects related to tacrolimus use were monitored to determine drug safety. Results: The study cohort consisted of 21 patients who met the eligibility criteria. The mean duration of tacrolimus use was 41.3 ± 18.5 months. Fourteen patients (66.7%) continuously used tacrolimus, and three (14.3%) discontinued treatment following complete remission. Four patients (19%) did not use tacrolimus as prescribed or interrupted tacrolimus use on their own: two (9.5%) because of discomfort upon application and two (9.5%) because of the lack of improvement. Ten patients (47.6%) maintained disease control without the use of corticosteroids, whereas 11 (52.4%) required an average of 2.70 ± 1.35 corticosteroid cycles to control symptoms. The only reported side effect was discomfort upon application. Conclusions: Despite the small sample size and study design limitations, these results support the long-term use of topical tacrolimus as an effective and safe option for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, with good compliance of patients to the treatment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a aderência, a eficácia e segurança do uso prolongado de tacrolimus tópico no controle clínico da ceratoconjuntivite vernal. Métodos: Um estudo retrospectivo foi desenvolvido através da análise de prontuários de pacientes com ceratoconjuntivite vernal em tratamento prolongado com tacrolimus tópico 0,03%. A duração do tempo de uso do ta­crolimus e as causas de descontinuação da medicação foram usadas para avaliar a adesão ao tratamento. Para avaliar a eficácia da droga, a necessidade e o número de vezes em que corticoides tópicos foram utilizados para controlar os sintomas foram registrados. Os efeitos colaterais relacionados ao uso do tacrolimus foram monitorados para determinar a segurança da droga. Resultados: Vinte e um pacientes preencheram os critérios de eleição e foram incluídos no estudo. A duração média do uso de tacrolimus foi de 41,3 ± 18,5 meses. Quatorze pacientes (66,7%) usaram continuamente o tacrolimus e 3 (14,3%) descontinuaram o tratamento após a remissão completa. Quatro pacientes (19%) não usaram o tacrolimus conforme prescrito ou interromperam o uso da droga isoladamente: 2 (9,5%) por desconforto na aplicação e 2 (9,5%) pela falta de melhora. Dez pacientes (47,6%) mantiveram a doença sob controle sem o uso de corticoides, enquanto 11 (52,4%) necessitaram em média 2,70 ± 1,35 ciclos corticoides para controle dos sintomas. O único efeito adverso relatado foi desconforto na aplicação. Conclusões: Apesar do pequeno tamanho da amostra e das limitações do desenho do estudo, esses resultados suportam o uso prolongado do tacrolimus tópico como opção eficaz e segura para o tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite vernal, com boa adesão dos pacientes ao tratamento.

[Long-term efficacy of omalizumab in patients with conventional treatment-resistant vernal keratoconjunctivitis]. / Eficacia a largo plazo del omalizumab en pacientes con queratoconjuntivitis vernal resistente a tratamiento convencional.

BACKGROUND: In vernal keratoconjunctivitis, traditional treatments are sometimes insufficient for symptom control; the results with omalizumab are promising in resistant cases. CASE REPORT: 15-year-old female adolescent with vernal keratoconjunctivitis who had received multiple ophthalmic treatments, immunotherapy and systemic steroids with no clinical response. She attended a clinical immunology and allergy department where she was started on omalizumab 225 mg every 2 weeks. After 6 months, she showed a decrease in pruritus and photophobia; two years later, both papillae and Horner-Trantas dots had disappeared. She remained symptom-free, and the use of ophthalmic drugs was therefore reduced. The patient missed omalizumab application on 4 occasions; however, symptoms recurred, and the papillae reappeared, but remitted upon drug re-initiation. CONCLUSION: There is a temporal relationship between omalizumab administration and ocular symptom con-trol, with evidence of relapse upon discontinuation.

Antecedentes: En la queratoconjuntivitis vernal, los tratamientos tradicionales a veces son insuficientes para controlar los síntomas; los resultados con omalizumab son prometedores en los casos resistentes. Reporte de caso: Adolescente de 15 años con queratoconjuntivitis vernal quien había recibido múltiples tratamientos oftálmicos, inmunoterapia y esteroides sistémicos sin respuesta clínica. Acudió a un servicio de inmunología clínica y alergia donde se comenzó tratamiento con 225 mg de omalizumab cada dos semanas. Después de seis meses mostró disminución del prurito y de la fotofobia; dos años más tarde habían desaparecido las papilas y puntos de Horner-Trantas. La paciente permaneció sin síntomas, por lo que redujo el uso de medicamentos oftálmicos. En cuatro ocasiones suspendió la aplicación de omalizumab, sin embargo, los síntomas recurrían y reaparecían las papilas, que remitían al reiniciar el fármaco. Conclusión: En la paciente descrita existió relación temporal entre la administración de omalizumab y el control de los síntomas oculares, con evidencia de recaída después de la interrupción.

Alergia ocular / Ocular allergy

Resumen La alergia ocular consiste en un grupo de enfermedades caracterizadas por inflamación de la conjuntiva ocular, dentro de las que podemos encontrar a la conjuntivitis alérgica estacional (CAE) o perenne (CAP), la queratoconjuntivitis vernal, la queratoconjuntivitis atópica y la blefaroconjuntivitis de contacto. Aqueja aproximadamente al 10% de la población mundial, y los más afectados son pacientes con otras patologías alérgicas. El diagnóstico es clínico y se integra mediante los síntomas y hallazgos encontrados durante la exploración física oftalmológica presentes en el sujeto al momento de la visita. Los principales objetivos del tratamiento en la conjuntivitis alérgica son minimizar y controlar los signos y síntomas de la enfermedad, incluyendo la reducción del prurito, de la hiperemia y del edema de la conjuntiva y párpados, así como mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente. El tratamiento incluye medidas no farmacológicas, como evitar estímulos irritantes, el uso de lágrimas artificiales, la aplicación de compresas frías y medicamentos como vasoconstrictores, antihistamínicos, estabilizadores de mastocitos, agentes de acción dual, esteroides y fármacos inmunomoduladores, así como inmunoterapia alérgeno específica. Los cambios desencadenados por la inflamación de la conjuntiva, producen daño corneal mecánico, y en los casos graves y crónicos de la enfermedad, el daño corneal puede resultar en la disminución de la agudeza visual, lo cual disminuye la calidad de vida del paciente.

Abstract Ocular allergy is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the ocular conjunctiva and include seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis and contact blepharoconjunctivitis; affects approximately 10% of world population being most affected those patients with other allergic diseases; the diagnosis is clinical and is integrated through the symptoms and findings found during the physical examination. The main goals of treatment in allergic conjunctivitis are minimize and control the signs and symptoms of the disease, including the reduction of pruritus, hyperemia and edema of the conjunctiva and eyelids as well as improving the quality of life of the patient; treatment includes non-pharmacological measures such as avoiding irritant stimuli, use of artificial tears, application of cold compresses and medications such as vasoconstrictors, antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, dual acting agents, steroids and immunomodulatory drugs, as well as specific allergen immunotherapy. Changes triggered by inflammation of the conjunctiva produce mechanical corneal damage and in severe and chronic cases of the disease, corneal damage can result in decreased visual acuity, which results in a decrease patient's quality of life.

Quality of life and clinical characterization of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis in a pediatric population in Colombia.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is one of the most serious ocular allergies that have the potential to induce large ocular morbidity and significant visual changes affecting the quality of life of these individuals. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted in two phases. The first phase consisted of the clinical characterization of 32 patients from the Clinical Allergology center of the I.P.S. Universitaria from July 2014 to February 2015. A retrospective analysis of medical records was performed. In the second phase, the evaluation of quality of life was conducted using the questionnaire KIDSCREEN 27, which was validated in our population and evaluated as recommended by the creators of this instrument. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients (75%) were men, mean age of 12.1 (SD 2.6) years. 100% of the patients had clinical evaluation and were monitored by Allergology and Ophthalmology, 12 patients (37.5%) were found in mild level, 5 patients (15.6%) were moderate and 14 patients (43.8%) were severe level. The most common symptoms were pruritus (75%), photophobia (50%), lacrimation (37.5%), and secretions (28.1%). 65.6% had a family history of atopy and 84.4% had an allergic comorbidity. Aeroallergen skin tests were found positive in 25 patients (78.1%). All patients had initiated ocular treatment by the time the survey of quality of life was conducted; but, they still had low quality of life scores in the 5 domains assessed. When the scores were evaluated by gender, the only statistically significant difference was found in the domain of family life and free time, which was lower for women. CONCLUSION: The vernal keratoconjunctivitis is a disease more prevalent in men. It apparently has an important atopic base in our environment, which due to its severe ocular involvement causes a marked decrease in the quality of life of the children who present it.

Direct fluorescent antibody assay and polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis

OBJECTIVES: To identify Chlamydia trachomatis via polymerase chain reaction and a direct fluorescent antibodyassay in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis while comparing the efficacies of both tests for detectingChlamydia trachomatis in these conditions. METHODS: Conjunctival scraping samples were obtained from 177 patients who were divided into two groups: avernal keratoconjunctivitis group (group A) and a control group (group B). The polymerase chain reaction and adirect fluorescent antibody assay were performed. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristic curves,and areas under the curve were calculated for both tests in groups A and B. Receiver operating characteristic curveswere plotted using a categorical variable with only two possible outcomes (positive and negative). RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between vernal keratoconjunctivitis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection detected by a direct fluorescent antibody assay with high sensitivity and specificity. Allpatients in group A with positive polymerase chain reactions also presented with positive direct fluorescentantibody assays. CONCLUSION: The association between vernal keratoconjunctivitis and Chlamydia trachomatis infection wasconfirmed by positive direct fluorescent antibody assays in 49.4 percent of vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients and bypositive polymerase chain reactions in 20 percent of these patients. The direct fluorescent antibody assay detectedChlamydia trachomatis in a higher number of patients than did the polymerase chain reaction. Although thediagnosis of trachoma is essentially clinical, the disease may not be detected in vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients.Due to the high frequency of chlamydial infection detected in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis, we suggestconsidering routine laboratory tests to detect Chlamydia trachomatis in patients with severe and refractory allergicdisease.

Alergia ocular / Ocular allergy

En el presente artículo revisaremos los aspectos más relevantes de la alergia ocular: su epidemiología, fisiopatología, cuadros clínicos y su terapéutica. Se encontrará una descripción más detallada de la fisiopatología ya que es, sin duda, la base del éxito terapéutico

In the present article we will review the most important aspectsof ocular allergy: its epidemiology, physiopathology, clinicalcharacteristics and treatment. A more detailed description ofthe physiopathology is addressed because is the basis for asuccessful treatment.

Alergia ocular: un reto diagnóstico: [revisión] / Ocular allergy: a diagnostic challenge: [review]

El ojo es uno de los órganos más sensibles y está permanentemente expuesto a diversos agentes ambientales. Dado que la conjuntiva es un tejido inmunológicamente activo, no es sorprendente que sea un sitio común de respuestas alérgicas. Las alergias oculares son un grupo de enfermedades que afectan la superficie conjuntival y están asociadas usualmente a reacciones de hipersensibilidad tipo 1. Pueden ser divididas en varias categorías: conjuntivitis alérgica estacional, conjuntivitis alérgica perenne, queratoconjuntivitis vernal y queratoconjuntivitis atópica.La inflamación de la superficie ocular produce prurito, lagrimeo, edema conjuntival y fotofobia. Como en otras enfermedades alérgicas, se puede desarrollar una condición crónica, acompañada de remodelación de los tejidos oculares. Las estrategias para el tratamiento de la alergia ocular han aumentado exponencialmente y los clínicos disponen de un inventario cada vez mayor de agentes dirigidos a la protección del ojo contra la inflamación. En este trabajo presentamos una revisión sobre las principales formas de alergia ocular, haciendo énfasis en el cuadro clínico, el diagnóstico y las nuevas opciones terapéuticas disponibles en la actualidad.