High‐mobility group box‐1 ( HMGB ‐1) and serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products ( sRAGE ) in children affected by vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Background Vernal keratoconjunctivitis ( VKC ) is a chronic disease affecting conjunctiva even though the immunopathogenetic mechanisms underlying this inflammation are unclear. The aim of our study is to investigate serum levels of HMGB 1 and circulating sRAGE in children affected by VKC before and after treatment with cyclosporine A ( C s A ) eye drops and in a group of healthy children. Methods Twenty‐four children affected by VKC aged between 5 and 12 yrs of life were enrolled at the D epartment of P ediatrics, D ivision of A llergy and I mmunology, ‘ S apienza’ U niversity of R ome. Twenty‐four healthy children without atopy, ocular, and systemic disease, cross‐matched for sex and age to patients affected by VKC , represented the controls. All children affected by VKC were treated with C s A 1% eye drops for 4 wks, and blood samples were collected before and 2 wks after the end of treatment while the controls underwent to a single blood sample at the time of enrollment. Results Serum basal levels of HMGB 1 and sRAGE were higher in children with VKC when compared with controls while, in patients affected by VKC , no difference was detected between atopic and non‐atopic, and between ANA ‐positive and ANA ‐negative children. A significant reduction in serum HMGB 1 and sRAGE levels was detected after the therapy while C s A serum levels were negative. Conclusions Our study gives a support to the definition of VKC as a systemic inflammation in which HMGB 1 and its soluble receptors could play a role.