Conjuctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis associated with primary immunodeficiency diseases

Nineteen patients with a variety of well-defined primary immunodeficiency diseases were examined for ocular abnormalities. Eight patients with low levels, or absence, of all the major serum immunoglobulins had conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis associated with bacterial infection. The remaining 11 patients, who had at least one immunoglobulin class present in normal concentration in the serum, showed no inflammatory ocular lesion. Absence of only IgA, the major tear immunoglobulin, did not predispose the eye to these lesions.