Effects of systemically applied allopurinol and prednisolone on experimental autoimmune uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of allopurinol to those of prednisolone on the oxidative tissue damage and inflammatory response in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU).


METHODS
Experiments were performed using 27 male Lewis rats. EAU was induced by means of crude retina extract, Freund's adjuvant and pertussis toxin. One group of animals served as controls and two groups were treated systemically, one with allopurinol and one with prednisolone. At the end of the experiments lipid peroxides (LPO), myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), and histological changes were determined in the retinal tissue. LPO were measured by two different methods [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and malondialdehyde-like substances].


RESULTS
Allopurinol led to a significant reduction in LPO and MPO levels. The steroid treatment also resulted in a significant reduction in MPO activity but LPO were significantly reduced only when measured as TBARS. Histological changes were significantly reduced by allopurinol only.


CONCLUSIONS
Allopurinol is more effective than prednisolone in treating EAU. Its efficacy can be explained by the antioxidative/antiinflammatory and probably immunological action. The antiinflammatory effects of prednisolone are not sufficient to reduce the tissue damage. Allopurinol promises to be a useful alternative to steroids in the treatment of uveitis.
Augustin
A J
AJ
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Germany. 106020.560@compuserve.com
Loeffler
K U
KU
Sekundo
W
W
Grus
F H
FH
Lutz
J
J
D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002417:Cattle; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D000493:Allopurinol; D011239:Prednisolone; D009195:Peroxidase