[Eye involvement in hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome]

The Hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E-Syndrome (HIE) is characterized by high levels of serum-IgE, diminished counts of T-suppressor-cells, eosinophilia, and disturbed chemotactic functions of neutrophil granulocytes. An 8 years old female, suffering from hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (HIE), showed marginal corneal ulcera since five years. Positive conjunctival smears included several bacterias and chlamydia, but never local herpes virus. Inspite of treatment by antibiotics, virostatica, and therapeutical contact lens, a spontaneous corneal perforation occurred. A penetrating keratoplasty was successful for a short time, but soon ulceration rose again. At last a second penetrating keratoplasty was necessary. The early status showed tidy results, but some weeks later marginal ulceration occurred again. There was no clinical proof for herpetical genesis of the course, but evidence is conceivable for pathomechanisms similar to conjunctivitis vernalis.