751

nervous system other than those involving myelin; there is no myelin in the eye. It seems important to consider the possible role of

viruses in these manifestations. Since 1985 we have been looking for intraocular production of virus-specific antibodies by analysing the aqueous humour of patients with uveitisInflammation increases the amount of protein leaking from the blood to intraocular fluid, and to compare antibody concentrations in aqueous humour (AH) and in serum (S) we calculate, for each virus tested, C (the ocular synthesis of specific IgG) from the following formula:

(AH IgG/S IgG) - (AH albumin/S albumin) Two groups of patients were studied-13 with symptomatic uveitis associated with MS (group A), and 803 with idiopathic uveitis (group B). Uveitis was considered idiopathic after clinical evaluation and testing had eliminated known causes such as toxoplasmosis or diagnostic entities known to be associated with uveitis (eg, spondylarthritis, Reiter’s disease, Behçet’s syndrome, and sarcoidosis). Samples of blood and aqueous humour were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (’Enzygnost’; Behring) for IgGs specific for measles, herpes simplex, and varicella zoster virus and cytomegalovirus. Albumin was measured by laser nephelometry. Patients in group A had significantly increased ocular synthesis of antibodies to measles (but not to the other three viruses) when compared with group B: -

Male Mean age C value*

(SD)

Measles

Herpes simplex Varicella zoster

Cytomegalovirus

MS

(n = 13)

Idiopathic uveitis (n = 803)

31%

45%

39 (13) yr

37 (16) yr

69

(26, 208)t 35(14,43) 15(9,36) 36 (28,65)

19 (10, 41) 35(21,63) 12(6,21) 22 (11, 40)

*See text for definition; results as median (and 25th and 75th percentiles). tp 50% reduction 20%, (< 20% reduction in KCRS)

in

Kings College rating scale [KCRS]), KCRS), ----no response

reduction in

NO inhibitors and septic shock.

751 nervous system other than those involving myelin; there is no myelin in the eye. It seems important to consider the possible role of viruses in...
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