Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and management
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 approximate...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Ophthalmology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fopht.2024.1328953/full |
| _version_ | 1797306635852447744 |
|---|---|
| author | Antonio Di Zazzo Angela Y. Zhu Ken Nischal Simon S. M. Fung |
| author_facet | Antonio Di Zazzo Angela Y. Zhu Ken Nischal Simon S. M. Fung |
| author_sort | Antonio Di Zazzo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:44:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-037c08519a4e4475a9e0385689760e93 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2674-0826 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:44:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj.art-037c08519a4e4475a9e0385689760e932024-02-15T11:17:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ophthalmology2674-08262024-02-01410.3389/fopht.2024.13289531328953Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and managementAntonio Di Zazzo0Angela Y. Zhu1Ken Nischal2Simon S. M. Fung3Ophthalmology Operative Complex Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, ItalyBascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United StatesDepartment of Ophthalmology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesPediatric Ophthalmology, UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesVernal 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fopht.2024.1328953/fullVernal keratoconjunctivitisadultocular allergyepidemiologypathology |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Di Zazzo Angela Y. Zhu Ken Nischal Simon S. M. Fung Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and management Frontiers in Ophthalmology Vernal keratoconjunctivitis adult ocular allergy epidemiology pathology |
| title | Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and management |
| title_full | Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and management |
| title_fullStr | Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and management |
| title_short | Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults: a narrative review of prevalence, pathogenesis, and management |
| title_sort | vernal keratoconjunctivitis in adults a narrative review of prevalence pathogenesis and management |
| topic | Vernal keratoconjunctivitis adult ocular allergy epidemiology pathology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fopht.2024.1328953/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT antoniodizazzo vernalkeratoconjunctivitisinadultsanarrativereviewofprevalencepathogenesisandmanagement AT angelayzhu vernalkeratoconjunctivitisinadultsanarrativereviewofprevalencepathogenesisandmanagement AT kennischal vernalkeratoconjunctivitisinadultsanarrativereviewofprevalencepathogenesisandmanagement AT simonsmfung vernalkeratoconjunctivitisinadultsanarrativereviewofprevalencepathogenesisandmanagement |