Open AccessAlpha-1 Antitrypsin, a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
Author(s) -
Akif Ahsan,
Khushtar Anwar Salman,
Md. Sayem Alam,
A. H. Siddiqui,
Syed Shariq Naeem,
Ahmad Abdolzadeh,
Iqbal Khan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2014/6342.4362
Subject(s) - vernal keratoconjunctivitis , medicine , allergic conjunctivitis , conjunctiva , acute phase protein , gastroenterology , pathogenesis , inflammation , keratoconjunctivitis , allergy , etiology , immunology , dermatology
A major chunk of ocular allergies in humans involve the conjunctiva, of which Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) appears to be more common. VKC, a chronic allergic conjunctivitis, frequently affects young males and is characterized by intense inflammation of the limbal and/or tarsal conjunctiva. The etiology and immuno-pathogenesis of VKC still remain unclear. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), a member of serine proteinase inhibitor (SERPIN) superfamily, is an acute phase protein whose concentration in blood increases in response to inflammation. AAT deficiency is one of the many factors that may be involved in several abnormalities such as liver disease, emphysema, inflammatory joint diseases and inflammatory eye diseases. In the present study, the role played by this protein in VKC was analyzed in a selective case/control study to assess its diagnostic and prognostic value.