Toxic eoinophil granule protein depoition in corneal ulceration and car aociated with atopic keratoconjunctiviti

PURPOE: Recurrent or peritent corneal eroion and ulceration are typical complication of atopic keratoconjunctiviti. Toxic eoinophil granule protein uch a major baic protein (MBP) and eoinophil cationic protein (ECP) may be involved in thi pathogenetic proce. Thi tudy wa deigned to demontrate the preence of toxic eoinophil granule protein in corneal tiue from a patient with corneal complication of atopic keratoconjunctiviti. DEIGN: Obervational cae report. METHOD: Three corneal button of a patient with atopic keratoconjunctiviti aociated ulceration or carring were examined by light microcopy and by immunofluorecence technique. REULT: A linear depoition of eoinophil granular ubtance wa detected ubepithelially above Bowman’ membrane in all corneal button. Indirect immunofluorecence identified thi material a MBP and ECP. The depoit were not limited to the area of ulceration, but were alo found underneath intact corneal epithelium. Multiple eoinophil were preent in the upper corneal troma. Normal cornea and negative control ection of the pathologic button revealed only minimal nonpecific taining at the urface of the epithelium. CONCLUION: Both MBP and ECP are known to affect human corneal epithelial cell viability and morphology in vitro. Moreover, MBP wa hown to inhibit epithelial migration and protein ynthei. Thee toxic eoinophil protein may alo be reponible for corneal intability, recurrent and peritent corneal epithelial defect and ulceration in patient with atopic keratoconjunctiviti.