BKC Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot case-control study of Tear Film parameters and full Cytokine assay in Blepharo-kerato-conjunctivis (BKC) in Paediatric age group. (TPCA-BKC Study)
IRAS ID
291014
Contact name
Mrinal Rana
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 12 months, 0 days
Research summary
Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (BKC) is an inflammation of the eyelids and the front of the eye. There is no direct cause of this condition but it can be more common in people who have eczema, asthma or acne. The eyelids contain tiny glands that make an oil that help keep the eyes moist as part of the tear film. In BKC, these glands can become blocked which can cause irritated and sore eyes. Because symptoms keep coming back, it can cause long term inflammation in the eyelids and new blood vessels growing in the front, clear part of the eye. This can cause a lazy eye in children and loss of vision.
Currently there is no test to diagnose BKC- it is based on symptoms and signs. There is also no research study that has been performed that tells us when to stop treatment.This study will take place in the University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire Outpatients department. Patients who will be invited to take part will have symptoms and signs suggestive of BKC or will be normal, and will not have had any treatment in the last 2 weeks. On the initial visit, we will examine the eye as we would normally but we will also take a swab of the eyelid as well as some tear samples. This is before any treatment is started. Every month after treatment is started for 3 months, we will take these swabs and tear samples again, to see if there is any inflammatory markers that is affected by the treatment.
The purpose of this study is to find out if there are any inflammatory markers in BKC that we can pick up, that treatment can be adjusted on. We are aiming for 10 children aged 7-16 years with BKC and 10 children without.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0467
Date of REC Opinion
26 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion