The role of autoaggressive reactions in recurrent uveitis.

An experimental study in rabbits and clinical study in patients with uveitis was carried out. Experimental uveitis was induced in rabbits sensitized with albumin and antigen was injected intravenously or into the vitrous body of their eyes. Blastic transformation of lymphocytes stimulated with PHA, albumin and extracts of the uvea and cytotoxicity of the serum against normal white blood cells in presence of antigen were determined. In recurrent uveitis blastic transformation induced with uvea antigens, hemagglutinin titers against these antigens and serum cytotoxicity increased. The results indicate a significant role of autoaggression in the pathogenesis of some recurrent eye uveitis cases.