Abstract:
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic, progressive, allergic ocular surface disorder that can lead to sight-threatening complications. VKC occurs primarily in children and generally resolves about the time of puberty; however, case series and retrospective analyses indicate that approximately 10% of patients with VKC are adults, and that a subset of adult cases develop after puberty. Consequently, two age-related variants of VKC have recently been described: early-onset VKC-which manifests during childhood and persists into adult life-and late-onset disease, which emerges de novo after puberty. Although the signs and symptoms of adult and childhood VKC are similar, adult VKC is a long-lasting disease characterized by severe inflammation and increased risk of conjunctival fibrosis, which may place adult patients at higher risk for sight-threatening complications and adverse impacts on daily life. This review discusses the epidemiology, signs, symptoms, immunopathogenesis of adult VKC variants, and highlights current gaps in research and management of patients with this condition.
摘要:
春季角膜结膜炎(VKC)是一种慢性,进步,过敏性眼表疾病,可导致危及视力的并发症。VKC主要发生在儿童中,通常在青春期左右解决;然而,病例系列和回顾性分析表明,大约10%的VKC患者是成年人,一部分成人病例在青春期后发展。因此,最近描述了两种与年龄相关的VKC变体:早发性VKC-在儿童期表现并持续到成人生活和迟发性疾病,这是青春期后从头出现的。虽然成人和儿童VKC的症状和体征相似,成人VKC是一种长期的疾病,其特征是严重的炎症和结膜纤维化的风险增加,这可能会使成年患者面临更高的危及视力的并发症和对日常生活的不利影响的风险。这篇综述讨论了流行病学,标志,症状,成人VKC变体的免疫发病机制,并强调了目前在这种情况下患者的研究和管理方面的差距。