Abstract

MIRANDA-MACHADO, Pablo Andrés  and  CRUZ-HOYOS SANCHEZ, Bautista De la. Skin reactivity in allergic conjunctivitis. Rev. alerg. Méx. [online]. 2018, vol.65, n.3, pp.208-216. ISSN 2448-9190.  https://doi.org/10.29262/ram.v65i3.351.

Background:

Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by an IgE-mediated mechanism or immediate hypersensitivity due to allergen direct contact on the conjunctival surface of sensitized patients, which elicits mastocyte activation and inflammatory mediators’ release. Up to 47% of patients with allergic conjunctivitis can develop sensitization to perennial allergens; more than 24% of patients can experience sensitization to multiple allergens.

Objective:

To estimate positive skin reactivity to allergens in patients diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis in the allergology outpatient clinic of Centro de Especialistas Santo Domingo, in Cartagena, Colombia, during 2017.

Method:

Cross-sectional study of 92 patients aged between 3 and 74 years, included by convenience sampling.

Results:

70.65% had positive skin prick tests to at least one allergen. Most common allergens with positive skin reactivity were house dust mites (65.2%), animal epithelia (15.2%), insects (15.2%) and food (14.1%). Allergic rhinitis (51%), allergic asthma (23%) and atopic dermatitis (10%) were the most commonly associated allergic pathologies.

Conclusions:

Positive skin reactivity to the studied allergens was significantly higher in patients with allergic conjunctivitis and other associated conditions.

Keywords : Allergic conjunctivitis; Skin prick tests; Allergens.