[Evaluation of the efficacy of subjective symptoms, objective findings, and of a total tear IgE detection kit in diagnosis of allergic conjunctival diseases].

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the efficacy of subjective symptoms, objective findings, and of a total tear IgE test kit in the diagnosis of allergic conjunctival diseases (ACD).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

The subjects were 223 patients with ACD, diagnosed according to the clinical practice guidelines for allergic conjunctival diseases in 28 medical facilities in Japan. The ACD patients were divided into the following five groups: 84 patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), 52 patients with perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC), 41 patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), 38 patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and 8 patients with giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC). All cases were examined for clinical ACD, subjective symptoms, objective findings by the clinical score and by a total tear IgE test. An eosinophil examination by conjunctival smear was also performed in 87 ACD patients.

RESULTS:

The most prevalent subjective symptoms were itching (81.6%) and hyperemia (77.6%). The clinical scores of the objective findings in the patients with SAC, PAC, AKC, VKC and GPC were 16.3 +/- 3.8 (mean +/- SD) points, 16.2 +/- 2.8, 19.8 +/- 6.5, 23.1 +/- 5.3, and 21.4 +/- 3.9, respectively. In the total tear IgE test 72.2% of the ACD patients were positive; i.e., the ratios were 61.9% in SAC, 65.4% in PAC, 80.5% in AKC, 94.7% in VKC, and 75.0% in GPC. In the examination of eosinophils in the 87 ACD patients, 42.5% (37 eyes) were positive, i.e., the ratio was 20.0% in SAC, 36.8% in PAC, 53.3% in AKC, 75.0% in VKC and 33.3% in GPC. The rate of agreement between the total tear IgE test and the examination of eosinophils was kappa = 0.28 (Cohen kappa coefficient).

CONCLUSION:

Because of the high positive ratio in patients quasi-definitively diagnosed with ACD, we conclude that the total tear IgE test is useful as an auxiliary method for diagnosing ACD.

• Authors: Jun Shojio, Eiichi Uchio, Nobuyuki Ebihara, Yuichi Ohashi, Shigeaki Ohno, Shigeki Okamoto, Naoki Kumagai, Yoshiyuki Satake, Kenichi Namba, Kazumi Fukagawa, Atsuki Fukushima, Hiroshi Fujishima, Etsuko Takamura
• Journal: Nippon Ganka Gakkai zasshi (Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi) Vol. 116 Issue 5 Pg. 485-93 (May 2012) ISSN: 0029-0203 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 22690539 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Conjunctivitis, Allergic (diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (analysis)
• Keratoconjunctivitis (diagnosis)
• Male
• Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
• Tears (immunology)