Vernal keratoconjunctivitis and eosinophilic esophagitis: A rare combination?

Maria Cristina Artesani, MD; Sara Urbani, MD; Carla Riccardi, MD; Mariacristina Esposito, MD; Paola De Angelis, MD; Francesca Rea, MD; Renato Tambucci, MD; Monica Malamisura, MD; Luca Buzzonetti, MD; Alessandro Giovanni Fiocchi, MD

World Allergy Organization Journal (Jan 2024)

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis and eosinophilic esophagitis: A rare combination?

Maria Cristina Artesani, MD,
Sara Urbani, MD,
Carla Riccardi, MD,
Mariacristina Esposito, MD,
Paola De Angelis, MD,
Francesca Rea, MD,
Renato Tambucci, MD,
Monica Malamisura, MD,
Luca Buzzonetti, MD,
Alessandro Giovanni Fiocchi, MD

Affiliations

Maria Cristina Artesani, MD: Allergy Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.; Corresponding author. Allergy Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant’Onofrio, 4 00165 Rome, Italy.
Sara Urbani, MD: Allergy Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Carla Riccardi, MD: Allergy Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Mariacristina Esposito, MD: Ophthalmology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Paola De Angelis, MD: Digestive Endoscopy and Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Francesca Rea, MD: Digestive Endoscopy and Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Renato Tambucci, MD: Digestive Endoscopy and Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Monica Malamisura, MD: Digestive Endoscopy and Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Luca Buzzonetti, MD: Ophthalmology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Alessandro Giovanni Fiocchi, MD: Allergy Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17, no. 1
p. 100855

Abstract

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Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a bilateral ocular inflammatory disease with a conjunctival and corneal involvement and typical onset during childhood. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disease characterized by eosinophilic inflammation of the mucosa (≥15 eosinophils/HPF) and symptoms of esophageal dysfunction. EoE and VKC are both immune-mediated diseases sharing a similar pathogenetic mechanism and a high association with other allergic diseases. Nevertheless, no data are currently available about their clinical association. We present 4 cases of concomitant diagnosis of vernal keratoconjunctivitis and eosinophil esophagitis suggesting that these conditions may coexist in the same patient more frequently than expected. Health care providers should be aware of the possibility of co-occurrence in their daily practice.

Published in World Allergy Organization Journal

ISSN: 1939-4551 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/world-allergy-organization-journal/

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