CHARACTERIZATION OF CHRONIC CICATRIZING CONJUNCTIVITIS: PEMPHIGOID vs NON-PEMPHIGOID
Purpose
To identify causes of chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis. Secondary objectives were to describe degree of scar involvement and ocular complications at time of diagnosis.
Methods
Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional retrospective study. Adult patients with chronic scarring conjunctivitis who underwent conjunctival biopsy and direct inmmunofluorescence (DIF) from 2009 to 2019 at Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires (HIBA) were included.
Results
127 patients with chronic scarring conjunctivitis were included, 71.7% were women. Mean age was 73.9 years. DIF demonstrated presence of immune deposits in 33 patients (26%), 31 (94%) of them corresponding to MMP. At time of diagnosis MMP patients revealed Foster stage III in 55%, Stage I in 39%, and only 3% Stage I or IV. Regarding ocular complications in MMP keratopathy was found in 42%, obliterated puncta in 29%, trichiasis in 26%, corneal opacity/conjunctival keratinization in 10% and scarring entropion in 6.5%. Among patients with a negative biopsy (n96), we describe distribution of presumed causes of conjunctival scarring. In this group, we found keratopathy in 47%, trichiasis in 30%, and puncta obliteration in 28%.
Conclusion
We describe causes and complications of chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis. Among patients having MMP, a great proportion were diagnosed in Foster stage III, data similar to other published series, followed by a relatively high percentage in stage I. It is important to maintain suspicion and perform DIF to rule out MMP due to its known potential ocular surface damage and visual threat if not treated.
Conflict of interest
No
Authors 1
Last name
GARCIA
Initials of first name(s)
MM
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Buenos Aires
Country
Argentina
Authors 2
Last name
Granieri
Initials of first name(s)
FL
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Buenos Aires
Country
Argentina
Authors 3
Last name
Bursztyn
Initials of first name(s)
M
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Buenos Aires
Country
Argentina
Authors 4
Last name
Viñolo Chaca
Initials of first name(s)
Ch
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Buenos Aires
Country
Argentina
Authors 5
Last name
Ferreyra
Initials of first name(s)
L
Department
Reumathology
City
Buenos Aires
Country
Argentina
Authors 6
Last name
Gandino
Initials of first name(s)
L
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Buenos Aires
Country
Argentina
Authors 7
Last name
Segretin
Initials of first name(s)
EFE
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Buenos Aires
Country
Argentina
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