Article
From (kerato)konjunctivitis to systemic disease
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Published: | September 22, 2004 |
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Outline
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Objective
Many patients suffer from (kerato)konjunctivitis, associated with dry eye symtoms like burning, itching and foreign body sensation. In many cases, especially those caused by dry eyes, there is no explanation for the perhaps multifactorial disturbance. Nevertheless, (kerato)konjunctivitis can be a sign of a systemic disease.
Methods
Multiple diseases, associated with or preceded by (kerato)konjunctivitis are presented by means of histological findings and clinicopathological correlations.
Results
Mainly systemic disorders like inflammatory skin / mucosa diseases, severe drug-related skin reactions, autoimmune disorders and diseases requiring haematopoetic stem cell transplantation can develop typical or atypical (kerato)konjunctivitis.
Conclusions
In patients presenting with (kerato)konjunctivitis, especially those without response to therapy, several systemic diseases have to be considered as an underlying cause.