Conjunctivitis pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [5]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [6]

Overview

Conjunctivitis is defined as inflammation of bulbar and/or palpebral conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis has many etiologies, but the majority of cases can be caused by allergies or infection. Infective conjunctivitis is an infection of the conjunctiva either caused by viruses or bacteria. Airborne antigens may be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic conjunctivitis. Common airborne antigens include pollen, grass, and weeds. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) is a multifactorial disease and associated with different medical conditions.[1][2]

Pathophysiology

Pathogenesis

Infective Conjunctivitis

Infective conjunctivitis is an infection of the conjunctiva either caused by viruses or bacteria such as adenovirus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae Any change in the host defense, or in the species of normal flora of the eye can lead to clinical infection and conjunctivitis.

Change in the normal flora may occur by:[3]

Infective conjunctivitis is usually spread by:[1][2]

  • Direct contact with the infected person’s eye drainage or drainage from the person’s cough, sneeze, or runny nose
  • Contact with the infected person’s fingers, hands or objects (eye makeup applicators, towels, shared eye medications)
  • Adjacent infectious sites (rubbing of the eyes)

Neonatal Conjunctivitis

Neonatal conjunctivitis is occurring in a newborn during the first month of life, and often known as ophthalmia neonatorum. Neonatal conjunctivitis is mainly caused by sexually transmitted diseases agents such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and herpes simplex virus (HSV). Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of ophthalmia neonatorum in the developed countries because of higher prevalence of chlamydia as a sexually transmitted disease. The recognized routes of transmission of the organisms to the newborns include:[4]

  • Infected birth canal during vaginal birth
  • Transmembrane transmission of the infection
  • Transplacental transmission of the infection

chemical can cause ocular irritation Additionally, silver nitrate drops (ocular prophylaxis) can cause ocular irritation and result in chemical conjunctivitis in newborn.[5]

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Development of allergic conjunctivitis is the result of type 1 hypersensitivity. Following exposure to environmental allergens in sensitized individual, the cross-linking of IgE at the mast cell membrane level results in subsequent cell degranulation and secretion of histamine,[loukotriene]], and prostaglandin. The principal effects of these products are vasodilation and smooth-muscle contraction. Common airborne antigens involve in the pathogenesis of allergic conjunctivitis include pollen, grass, and weeds.[6][7]

Combination of type 1 and type 4 hypersensitivity reactions may be responsible for giant papillary conjunctivitis. Also, prolonged mechanical irritation to the superior tarsal conjunctiva of the upper lid from foreign bodies may also be a contributing factor in giant papillary conjunctivitis.[8][9]

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) is a multifactorial disease and associated with different medical conditions such as:[10][11]

The exact pathogenesis of the keratoconjunctivitis sicca associated Sjögren's syndrome is not fully understood. It is thought that keratoconjunctivitis sicca associated Sjögren's syndrome is the result of lymphosytic infiltration and malfunction of the lacrimal glands. This lymphasitic infiltration (CD4+ T cells and B cells) may result in lacrimal gland dysfunction and reduced tear production (Mediated by apopitosis).

Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis

Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK) is disease characterized by inflammation of the upper palpebral and superior bulbar conjunctiva. The exact pathogenesis of superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis is not fully understood, a mechanical hypothesis seems most attractive. It is thought that mechanical trauma from tight upper lids or loose redundant conjunctiva can lead to the disruption of normal epithelium. Also association between thyroid abnormalities (Graves ophthalmopathy) and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis has been reported.[12][13][14]

Gross Pathology

On gross pathology, the following are characteristic findings of conjunctivitis:[15]

Microscopic histopathological analysis

On microscopic histopathological analysis, the following are characteristic findings of conjunctivitis:[16]

Images

The following are gross and microscopic images associated with conjunctivitis.

  • Viral conjunctivitis[17]

    Viral conjunctivitis[17]

  • Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis[18]

    Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis[18]

  • Neonatal conjunctivitis<ref> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Image

    Neonatal conjunctivitis<ref> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Image

  • Chlamydial conjunctivitis (Day 5-14)[19]

    Chlamydial conjunctivitis (Day 5-14)[19]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Azari AA, Barney NP (2013). "Conjunctivitis: a systematic review of diagnosis and treatment". JAMA. 310 (16): 1721–9. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280318. PMC 4049531. PMID 24150468.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kyei S, Koffuor GA, Ramkissoon P, Abokyi S, Owusu-Afriyie O, Wiredu EA (2015). "Possible Mechanism of Action of the Antiallergic Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Heliotropium indicum L. in Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Conjunctivitis". J Allergy (Cairo). 2015: 245370. doi:10.1155/2015/245370. PMC 4657065. PMID 26681960.
  3. ↑ Everitt H, Kumar S, Little P (2003). "A qualitative study of patients' perceptions of acute infective conjunctivitis". Br J Gen Pract. 53 (486): 36–41. PMC 1314490. PMID 12564275.
  4. ↑ Treadwell P (1994). "Sexually transmitted diseases in neonates and infants". Semin Dermatol. 13 (4): 256–61. PMID 7848819.
  5. ↑ Mallika P, Asok T, Faisal H, Aziz S, Tan A, Intan G (2008). "Neonatal conjunctivitis - a review". Malays Fam Physician. 3 (2): 77–81. PMC 4170304. PMID 25606121.
  6. ↑ Malling HJ, Montagut A, Melac M, Patriarca G, Panzner P, Seberova E; et al. (2009). "Efficacy and safety of 5-grass pollen sublingual immunotherapy tablets in patients with different clinical profiles of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis". Clin Exp Allergy. 39 (3): 387–93. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03152.x. PMC 4233960. PMID 19134019.
  7. ↑ Kämpe M, Stålenheim G, Janson C, Stolt I, Carlson M (2007). "Systemic and local eosinophil inflammation during the birch pollen season in allergic patients with predominant rhinitis or asthma". Clin Mol Allergy. 5: 4. doi:10.1186/1476-7961-5-4. PMC 2174506. PMID 17967188.
  8. ↑ Donshik PC (1994). "Giant papillary conjunctivitis". Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 92: 687–744. PMC 1298525. PMID 7886881.
  9. ↑ Donshik PC, Porazinski AD (1999). "Giant papillary conjunctivitis in frequent-replacement contact lens wearers: a retrospective study". Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 97: 205–16, discussion 216-20. PMC 1298261. PMID 10703125.
  10. ↑ Sivaraman KR, Jivrajka RV, Soin K, Bouchard CS, Movahedan A, Shorter E; et al. (2016). "Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis-like Inflammation in Patients with Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease". Ocul Surf. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2016.04.003. PMID 27179980.
  11. ↑ Messmer EM (2015). "The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease". Dtsch Arztebl Int. 112 (5): 71–81, quiz 82. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0071. PMC 4335585. PMID 25686388.
  12. ↑ Nelson JD (1989). "Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (SLK)". Eye (Lond). 3 ( Pt 2): 180–9. doi:10.1038/eye.1989.26. PMID 2695351.
  13. ↑ Chelala E, El Rami H, Dirani A, Fakhoury H, Fadlallah A (2015). "Extensive superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis in Graves' disease: case report and mini-review of the literature". Clin Ophthalmol. 9: 467–8. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S79561. PMC 4362972. PMID 25792798.
  14. ↑ American Academy of Ophthalmology (2015) http://eyewiki.aao.org/Superior_limbic_keratoconjunctivitis Accessed on June 27, 2016
  15. ↑ National Eye Institute (2015) [1] Accessed on June 24, 2016
  16. ↑ DermNet NZ (2015)[2] Accessed on June 26, 2016
  17. ↑ Image Courtesy of Joyhil09 [3]
  18. ↑ Image Courtesy of James Heilman [4]
  19. ↑ http://picasaweb.google.com/mcmumbi/USMLEIIImages
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