Chronic eye allergies likely do contribute to meibomian glands inflammation and drop out.
Currently there are few published papers demonstrating the role of allergic conjunctivitis and meibomian gland atrophy. It is a matter of time, in my opinion, for large studies to prove the role of allergy in destroying meibomian glands in it’s cycle of chronic inflammation.
It is known that wheat can trigger allergic reactions in non-Celiac patients;
For instance, in baker’s asthma, albumins have first been identified to trigger allergic symptoms, and it is now clear that a broad range of proteins from all fractions can cause various manifestations of allergic reactions. (Ref 1, 2).
True causality is lacking but I find many patients’ allergic symptoms improve when they get rid of the gluten and sugar in their diet.
References:
1.. Baker’s asthma. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2007: 7: 152–5.
2. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2016 Mar;27(2):147-55. doi: 10.1111/pai.12502. Epub 2015 Dec 22.
Wheat protein recognition pattern in tolerant and allergic children.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Wheat is one of the most common food allergens in early childhood. In contrast to other food allergies, wheat-specific IgE correlates badly with clinical symptoms and relevant components have been identified mostly for wheat-depended exercise-induced anaphylaxis. Moreover, a high percentage of patients present with immediate type symptoms but wheat-specific IgE cannot be detected with commercial available systems.
OBJECTIVE:
We addressed the question whether the IgE recognition pattern between wheat allergic (WA) and clinically tolerant (WT) children differs in order to identify individual proteins useful for component-resolved diagnostics.
METHODS:
Sera of 106 children with suspected wheat allergy, of whom 44 children had clinical relevant wheat allergy and 62 were tolerant upon oral food challenge, were analyzed for wheat-specific IgE using the ImmunoCap system as well as immunoblots against water and salt soluble, and water-insoluble protein fractions. 40 randomly selected sera were analyzed for specific IgE to ω5-gliadin.
RESULTS:
Sixty-three percent of the WT and 86% of the WA children were sensitized to wheat with >0.35 kUA /l in ImmunoCAP analysis. We could confirm the role of α-, ß-, γ-, and ω-gliadins, and LMW glutenin subunits as major allergens and found also IgE binding to a broad spectrum of water- and salt-soluble protein bands. It is of great importance that wheat allergic and tolerant patients showed IgE binding to the same protein bands. WT and WA did not significantly differ in levels of ω5-gliadin-specific IgE.
CONCLUSIONS & CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
Children with challenge proven clinical relevant food allergy and tolerant ones had a similar spectrum of IgE binding to the same protein bands. These findings imply that component-resolved diagnostics might not be helpful in the diagnostic work-up of wheat allergy.
3.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Oct;13(5):569-76. doi: 10.1097/ACI.0b013e328364ec92.
In-vivo confocal microscopy of the ocular surface: ocular allergy and dry eye.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW:
To summarize recent studies on in-vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) findings in ocular allergy and dry eye disease (DED), highlighting the role of IVCM in the advancement of knowledge of these diseases.
RECENT FINDINGS:
IVCM provided new data on ocular surface changes in both ocular allergy and DED. Corneal and conjunctival epithelial and inflammatory cells, corneal nerves, and Meibomian glands showed peculiar patterns of abnormalities, not easily discernable with current clinical exams in these two diseases and their subtypes. At present, small sample size of researches, and poor standardization and evidence of image analysis and interpretation are the most challenging issues.
SUMMARY:
Ocular allergy and DED are common and increasing healthcare problems, and need better understanding of pathogenesis and natural history, more reliable endpoints, and more tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. IVCM allows quick, noninvasive, steady-state respectful examination of the ocular surface at cellular level to be performed and has potential to be used in the future as a biomarker and to contribute to optimize the tailored management of these diseases
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Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Jul-Aug;15(4):34-43.
Syndrome of allergy, apraxia, and malabsorption: characterization of a neurodevelopmental phenotype that responds to omega 3 and vitamin E supplementation.
Author information
- 1
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland, California, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Verbal apraxia is a neurologically based motor planning speech disorder of unknown etiology common in autism spectrum disorders. Vitamin E deficiency causes symptoms that overlap those of verbal apraxia. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane are vulnerable to lipid peroxidation and early destruction if vitamin E is not readily available, potentially leading to neurological sequelae. Inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and malabsorption of nutrients such as vitamin E and carnitine may contribute to neurological abnormalities. The goal of this investigation was to characterize symptoms and metabolic anomalies of a subset of children with verbal apraxia who may respond to nutritional interventions.
DESIGN AND PATIENTS:
A total of 187 children with verbal apraxia received vitamin E + polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation. A celiac panel, fat-soluble vitamin test, and carnitine level were obtained in patients having blood analyzed.
RESULTS:
A common clinical phenotype of male predominance, autism, sensory issues, low muscle tone, coordination difficulties, food allergy, and GI symptoms emerged. In all, 181 families (97%) reported dramatic improvements in a number of areas including speech, imitation, coordination, eye contact, behavior, sensory issues, and development of pain sensation. Plasma vitamin E levels varied in children tested; however, pretreatment levels did not reflect clinical response. Low carnitine (20/26), high antigliadin antibodies (15/21), gluten-sensitivity HLA alleles (10/10), and zinc (2/2) and vitamin D deficiencies (4/7) were common abnormalities. Fat malabsorption was identified in 8 of 11 boys screened.
CONCLUSION:
We characterize a novel apraxia phenotype that responds to polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. The association of carnitine deficiency, gluten sensitivity/food allergy, and fat malabsorption with the apraxia phenotype suggests that a comprehensive metabolic workup is warranted. Appropriate screening may identify a subgroup of children with a previously unrecognized syndrome of allergy, apraxia, and malabsorption who are responsive to nutritional interventions in addition to traditional speech and occupational therapy. Controlled trials in apraxia and autism spectrum disorders are warranted.