60 Tear IFN-G is Increased After Sublingual Immunotherapy in Allergic Conjunctivitis Patients and Correlates With Clinical Improvement

BACKGROUND: Despite success of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in the treatment of allergy diseases, more research is needed related to ocular allergy. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyze the ocular microenvironment provided by tear cytokines in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) patients treated with SLIT and to correlate tear and serum cytokines with ocular findings. METHODS: 19 AC-patients were included in this study. AC diagnosis was based on a clinical history and full ophthalmologic examination according to the diagnosis standards of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Routine immunological studies were performed to corroborate allergic status Negative coproparasitoscopic results were documented. This study was approved by Scientific and Ethics Committees if Institute of Ophthalmology “Conde de la Valenciana,” Mexico City an all subjects gave their informed consent to obtain samples. Tear and serum samples were collected to determine cytokines IL2, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-g, TNF-a, IL-10 by cytometric bead arrays (CBA), following manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: After 6 months of treatment with SLIT we observed significant higher IFN-g concentration, without significant changes in IL2, IL4, IL5, TNFa or IL10. We observed significant clinical improvement since 3 months of treatment and it was maintained until the end of 6 months. Clinical improvement correlated with IFN-g concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcome in AC-patients treated with SLIT could be tear IFN-g dependent.