A Dutch study has demonstrated an association between some immune-system disorders and keratoconus (KC).
Dr Janneau Claessens, from the University Medical Center Utrecht, led the study, which used the medical insurance data of 2,051 KC cases and 12,306 controls. Researchers found that conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, allergic rash, asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness were all associated with a higher risk of KC.
“The immune system is highly involved in the positively associated diseases. Even though we did not demonstrate a causal relationship between keratoconus and the associated immune-mediated diseases, we believe that the associations suggest… the immune system contributes to the development of keratoconus,” they reported.
