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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:1097-1102 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.117812
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Prevalence of vernal keratoconjunctivitis: a rare disease?

  1. D Bremond-Gignac1,
  2. J Donadieu2,3,
  3. A Leonardi4,
  4. P Pouliquen5,
  5. S Doan6,
  6. F Chiambarretta7,
  7. P Montan8,
  8. S Milazzo9,
  9. T Hoang-Xuan6,
  10. C Baudouin10,
  11. S Aymé11
  1. 1
    Service d’Ophtalmologie, APHP, Hôpital Robert Debré, INSERM UMRS598, Paris, France
  2. 2
    Institut de Veille Sanitaire Unité Maladies Rares Département Maladies Chroniques et Traumatismes, Saint Maurice Cedex, France
  3. 3
    Service d’Hémato Oncologie Pédiatrique Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France
  4. 4
    Clinica Oculistica, Ospedale Civile, Padua, Italy
  5. 5
    Laboratoires Théa, Clermont-Ferrand, France
  6. 6
    Service d’Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
  7. 7
    Service d’Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France
  8. 8
    St. Eriks Ögonsjukhus AB, Stockholm, Sweden
  9. 9
    Centre Saint-Victor, Clinique Ophtalmologique, Amiens, France
  10. 10
    CNO des XV–XX, 28 rue de Charenton, INSERM UMRS598, Paris, France
  11. 11
    INSERM, SC 11, Orphanet, Paris, France
  1. Dr D Bremond-Gignac, Service d’Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Robert Debré, APHP, 48 boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France; dominique.bremond{at}rdb.aphp.fr
  • Accepted 9 October 2007
  • Published Online First 20 March 2008

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of vernal keratoconjuntivitis (VKC) in Europe.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was mailed to 3003 ophthalmologists from six countries (Finland, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway and Sweden) representing 151.9 million inhabitants. Results were analysed per country, and VKC prevalence for the 15 European member states in 2002 was extrapolated. Six hypotheses were used: disease duration (4 or 8 years) combined with three prevalence hypotheses for non-responding ophthalmologists.

Results: The response rate to the survey was 29.5%. The estimates of VKC prevalence in Western Europe (per 10 000 inhabitants) ranged from 1.16 to 10.55. The prevalence of VKC with corneal complications ranged from 0.30 to 2.26. The VKC prevalences per country were in the following ranges: Italy 2.4–27.8, Finland, 0.7–8.4, Sweden 1.2–8.7, The Netherlands 0.6–4.6, France 0.7–3.3 and Norway 0.3–1.9. VKC with corneal complications were: Italy 0.4–4.8, Sweden 0.3–2.4, Finland 0.2–2.8, The Netherlands 0.2–1.6, France 0.3–1.4 and Norway 0.1–1.0.

Conclusions: Based on the most likely hypotheses concerning disease duration and non-responding ophthalmologists’ VKC case rate, the best estimate of VKC prevalence in Western Europe is 3.2/10 000 inhabitants. The prevalence of VKC with corneal complications is 0.8/10 000 inhabitants.

Footnotes

  • Funding: This clinical trial was sponsored by Laboratoires Théa, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

  • Competing interests: DB-G, JD, AL, SD, PM, SM, TH-X, CB and SA have no financial interest in Laboratoires Théa. PP and LD are employees of Laboratoires Théa.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

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