title: Analysis of local antibody production in the vitreous humor of patients with severe uveitis.
abstract: We analyzed the local antibody production in vitreous humor samples collected during vitrectomy in patients with severe vision-threatening uveitis. In 24 patients, paired serum and undiluted vitreous humor samples were collected and tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and Toxocara canis. Total IgG and the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient were determined. The initial diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis could be confirmed in six of the seven patients. The seventh patient showed a local antibody production against herpes simplex virus. One of the three patients with chronic panuveitis at initial diagnosis showed a local antibody production against T. gondii. These last two findings resulted in a change in medical treatment. Analysis of local antibody production in vitreous humor samples is a valuable diagnostic tool.
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Baarsma
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luyendijk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kijlstra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peperkamp
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van Meurs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D006801:Humans; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral