title: Cellular Infiltrate in Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Paracentral Corneal Ulceration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate an immunopathogenesis of central and paracentral corneal ulceration associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sparse infiltrating cells in the ulcer area were identified by immunohistochemistry applied to archived formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues that had been recovered from patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty necessitated by rheumatoid-associated central or paracentral corneal ulceration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinically, the ulcers presented as non-infiltrated lesions with a modicum of other ocular inflammation. Sparse T-lymphocytes were consistently identified in the subepithelial areas adjacent to the ulcer, with some neutrophils and macrophages in the stroma. B-lymphocytes were not detected. MHC Class II antigens reactivity was noted on some infiltrating cells and on corneal endothelium of two specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunohistochemistry of archival tissue facilitated detection and identification of sparse infiltrate in this infrequent corneal melting. Selective, consistent finding of T-lymphocyte infiltration in the ulcer area supports an immunopathogenesis of this clinical entity.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kalsow
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Steven S S T
authors.initials: SSST
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Ronald D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Plotnik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000276:immunology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Corneal ulcer; T-lymphocytes; immunohistochemistry; infiltrate; rheumatoid arthritis