Granulomas in sympathetic ophthalmia and sarcoidosis. Immunohistochemical study.

Monoclonal antibodies were used to identify cells that form choroidal granulomas and Dalen-Fuchs nodules in sympathetic ophthalmia as well as the granulomas of sarcoid. Immunohistochemical analysis of frozen sections of fresh human tissues obtained after enucleation (sympathetic ophthalmia) and lung biopsy (sarcoid) was performed by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. The majority of the inflammatory cells within these lesions were identical and were composed mainly of cells originating from bone marrow-derived monocytes (reticuloendothelial system) probably representing immunologically stimulated granulomas. This study suggests possible immune phenomena that may take part in the pathogenesis of sympathetic ophthalmia and provides some insights into the possible mechanism of formation of choroidal granulomas and Dalen-Fuchs nodules in this disease.