Effects of various pharmacologic agents on allergic inflammation of the eye. The roles of chemical mediators in ocular inflammation.

Effects of pharmacologic agents on experimental ocular inflammation induced by reverse passive Arthus reactions were investigated by a slit-lamp technique utilizing fluorescein-labeled rabbet serum albumin as an indicator. Cobra venom factor completely eliminated inflammatory responses, indicating that the complement system is a trigger for this type of ocular inflammation. Antihistamines mainly suppressed the early vascular response. Reserpine and indomethacin remarkably inhibited the increase of the permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier over the first 5 hr. Epinephrine and steroid hormone were also effective. Neither diethylcarbamazine nor isonicotinic acid showed effects on the permeability changes induced in this type of inflammation.