RETROSPECTIVE SURVEY OF A LINK BETWEEN CAT AND DOG ANTIGENS AND ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS

This retrospective 3-year study was designed to determine (a) which an tigen-positive patients were found in greater numbers, (b) whether the patients who were positive for cat or dog antigen-specific IgE were a lso positive for other antigens, and (c) whether the number of patient s with allergic conjunctivitis increased during a particular time of t he year. A total of 762 patients were diagnosed with allergic conjunct ivitis including 107 cat-positive and/or dog-positive patients. Cat-po sitive patients were more prevalent than dog-positive patients, (p < 0 .001). All but 2 patients were positive for other antigens, indicating a strong link between the animal antigens and other antigens. Cat and dog allergy increased in spring and early summer.