title: Anti-endothelial cell antibodies in retinal vasculitis.
abstract: Auto-antibodies to endothelial cells are found in a variety of vasculitic disorders including two diseases associated with retinal vasculitis: Behcet's disease and multiple sclerosis. In this study we have examined the prevalence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies [AECA] in 15 patients with retinal vasculitis [RV] associated with Behcet's disease, multiple sclerosis or sarcoidosis and 20 patients with idiopathic retinal vasculitis. 47% of patients with RV associated with systemic disease and 35% of patients with idiopathic RV had AECA, compared to 1% of 70 normal controls. The mean levels of AECA were similar in both groups of patients, and comparable to levels found in other systemic vasculitides.
authors.affiliation: Medical Eye Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edelsten
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Cruz
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000276:immunology*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies