Bagcilar Medical Bulletin (Sep 2023)
The Role of Hematological Parameters in the Diagnosis of Childhood Allergic Conjunctivitis
Abstract
Objective:We aimed to investigate the parameters of complete blood count and the levels of systemic inflammatory biomarkers in children with allergic conjunctivit and to evaluate their role in diagnosis in this study.Method:We included 71 pediatric patients with allergic conjunctivit diagnosis referred from the ophthalmology outpatient clinics who had sensitivity to at least one allergen and 71 age- and sex-matched healthy controls and compared complete blood count results, immunoglobulin E (IgE), neutrophil/lymphocyte, and platelet/lymphocyte ratios and systemic immune-inflammation index results. We built a multivariate model with correlated results.Results:Eosinophil counts and serum total IgE values were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the control group (p<0.001). Other parameters were not statistically different. 70.4% (n=50) of the patients had seasonal allergic conjunctivit, and 29.6% (n=21) had perennial allergic conjunctivit. In the skin prick tests performed in the patient group, 60.6% (n=43) of the patients had pollen, 54.9% (n=39) mite, 12.7% (n=9) dander, 11.3% (n=8) cockroach, and 4.2% (n=3) had alternaria sensitivities. In the multivariate analysis, every 100-cell increase in eosinophil count increased the hazard ratio of allergic conjunctivitis 1.3 times (95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.5), and every 100-units increase in total IgE levels increased 1.2 times (95% confidence interval: 1.1-1.5).Conclusion:We found no significant relationship between neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios, and SII with allergic conjunctivit. Increasing eosinophil count and serum total IgE levels increase the hazard ratio for developing allergic conjunctivit. Pollen sensitivity was the most common factor in the skin test in allergic conjunctivit-diagnosed patients.
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