[Endogenous uveitis in disseminated intravascular coagulation induced by endotoxin].

A study was made of endogenous uveitis in experimental disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in rabbits. Endotoxin was injected intravenously twice with a 24-hour interval. The time courses of the following were examined: 1) aqueous flare using a laser flare-cell meter 2) the number of leukocytes in the peripheral blood 3) the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity in the serum and 4) histopathological changes in the eye, lung, liver and kidney. Aqueous flare increased at 1 hour and was maximal at 6 hours, accompanied by a rapid increase in TNF activity at 1 hour following the first endotoxin administration. The number of leukocytes decreased to 963 +/- 266 cells/mm3 at 1.5 hours with subsequent leukocytosis within 12 hours. After the second injection of endotoxin, the aqueous flare peaked in 30 minutes and was twice as high as the first peak. Leukocyte number and TNF activity showed the same behavior. However, TNF activity was 20% that of the first peak. Histopathological examination indicated fibrin formation in the small vessels of systemic organs within 3 hours following the second administration of endotoxin. Endotoxin induced uveitis was induced in experimental DIC, and leukocytes and TNF activity may thus perform important roles.