Keratoconus: an ocular manifestation of systemic immune dysregulation?

Keratoconus is a corneal ectatic disorder traditionally considered non-inflammatory, but emerging evidence suggests immune system involvement. This study evaluates the epidemiological relationship between keratoconus and immune-mediated diseases in the Eastern Anatolian population.

In this retrospective cohort study, 642 patients diagnosed with keratoconus (2017-2025) and 2568 age-sex-matched controls were examined. Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, autoimmune hepatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis was compared. Logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status. Bonferroni correction (p < 0.00625) and sensitivity analyses were applied.

Any immune-mediated disease was present in 38.6% of keratoconus patients versus 21.2% of controls (p < 0.001). After Bonferroni correction, significant associations remained for rheumatoid arthritis (aOR = 7.89, p = 0.003), asthma (aOR = 2.32, p < 0.001), allergic rhinitis (aOR = 1.58, p = 0.001), and autoimmune hepatitis (aOR = 6.12, p = 0.006). Immune disease prevalence increased with keratoconus severity.

Strong epidemiological associations exist between keratoconus and several immune-mediated diseases, suggesting immunological mechanisms may play a role in pathogenesis. However, findings demonstrate associations rather than causality, and some associations did not withstand correction for multiple comparisons. Prospective validation is needed.