The Study of Interleukin-17 Level in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis Disease and its Relationship between Symptom and Sign Severity.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a bilateral multi-factorial disease. The pathogenesis of this disease is not obviously determined, but the role of various inflammatory cytokines has been specified. This study has provided a comparison between the level of interleukin-17 (IL17) in the serum and tears of case and control groups, and also the relationship between the level of this interleukin with severity of signs and symptoms of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study has been accomplished on 40 individuals (20 healthy people and 20 patients who suffer from VKC) in Al-Zahra Eye Center in 2014. The level of interleukin was isolated in an individual's tear by Schirmer strips; moreover, serum interleukin has been measured. RESULTS: The average of interleukin 17 in serum in the case group was 25.5±4.1 pg/dl and in the control group was 12.5±5.7 pg/dl. The average of interleukin 17 in the case group was 259.6±91.4 pg/dl in the tear and was 50.6±20.8 pg/dl for the control group; the signs and symptoms of the IL-17 disease were associated with the severity of Trantas dots. CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-17 has a role in the pathogenesis of VKC and also has been proven in the former studies.