CLIMATIC DROPLET KERATOPATHY IN ARGENTINA: INVOLVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AGENTS IN ITS GENESIS WHICH WOULD OPEN THE PROSPECT FOR NEW THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS

SUAREZ MARÍA F; CORREA L; CRIM N; ESPOSITO E; MONTI R; A. URRETS-ZAVALÍA, JULIO; SERRA HM

BioMed Research International

HINDAWI

Año: 2015

2314-6133

limatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is a degenerative corneal disease of unknown etiology. We described CDK for the first timein Latin America in the Argentinean Patagonia (El Cuy). A deeper knowledge of CDK pathogenic mechanisms will provide newtherapeutic strategies. For that reason we investigated the prevalence of CDK in El Cuy and its existence in other 3 provinceswith similar climate. Patients eyes were examined, habits throughout lives were inquired about, and serum ascorbate (sAA) wasdetermined. All individuals work outdoors for most of the day. All regions had normal O3 levels. Individuals from regions 1, 2, and3 had very low consumption of vegetables/fruits and low sAA levels. Conversely, region 4 individuals had balanced diet and highersAA concentrations.CDKwas only found in region 3where individuals had partial deficiency of sAA and did not use eye protection.No CDK was found in regions 1 and 2 where individuals had similar work acti