title: [Physiopathologic mechanisms behind eye symptoms in primary tumors of the pineal body].
abstract: Primary tumors of the pineal body can produce dyscoordinative movements of the eye, pupillary dilatation, paralysis of adduction during convergence and nystagmus. Obstruction of the aqueduct can cause hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure and papilledema. Diabetes insipidus may be a presenting symptom. Pinealocytes and the photoreceptors of the eye contain several autoantigens. In man, the best known is the S-antigen. This antigen can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with primary tumors of the pineal body. The S-antigen, and possibly other related autoantigens, can elicit an autoimmune mediated reaction causing inflammatory eye symptoms. This recently described paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome shares properties in common with other known cancer-associated ophthalmologic syndromes characterised by rapid development of eye symptoms, rapid loss of sight and by eye manifestations prior to evident appearance of symptoms related to primary tumor growth. A primary tumor of the pineal body should be considered in patients where a monosymptomatic uveoretinitis presents without associated provoking factors. Furthermore, analyses of S-antigen in the spinal fluid can be useful in the clinical diagnosis of the same primary tumors.
authors.affiliation: Hvidovre Hospital, København.
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Illum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garde
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005123:Eye / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology