J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.
1973 Jun;14(2):135-137.
Pathology of Uveitis
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Inflammation of the uveal tract may be divided into three pathological types-acute purulent, subacute or chronic exudative, and granulomatous inflammations. However these catagories are considered merely as pathological types, not as clinical pictures. I. Acute purulent inflammations. Acute purulent inflammations, which are caused either by exogenous infection through a perforating wound or by endogenous infection through the blood-stream, tend usually to involve the entire globe. Such a generalized purulent inflammation of the inner eye is called panophthalmitis; it is not discussed here. II. Subacute and chronic exudative uveitis. Cases of subacute or chronic uveitis are much more common than those of acute panophthalmitis. The characteristics of such inflammations are essentially the same whatever their site. These may be summarized under three headings: changes in the affected tissue, the reaction of the pigmentary epithelium, and the formation of exudate. Whatever their etiology, the same general pathological picture is presented. In the initial stages there is vasodilation and edema with an intense and diffuse infiltration of the uveal tissues with mononuclear cells showing a tendency to aggregate into nodules. The inflammation may remain focal and involve some limited degree of necrosis whcih attracts large mononuclear phagocytes to be followed by repair by fibrosis. Such an inflammation may heal completely leaving a small and unimportant scar at the site of the focal lesion, or residual tell-tale aggregations of lymphocytes or mononuclear histiocytes to mark the site and extent of previous lesions. III. Granulomatous uveitis. The pure granulomatous reaction can be summarized as follows: at first an outpouring of leukocytes which are quickly replaced by a specific type of inflammatory cell-the large mononuclear phagocyte. These cells proliferate and invade the tissue. They undergo various transitions, chiefly into epitheloid cells. In many instance sensitizing antibodies are formed and the tissue become hypersensitive. Necrosis then occurs. Finally there it a reparative connective or glial tissue reaction with replacement of the destroyed tissue by a hyaline scar.
