The Occurrence of an Autoantiuveal Antibody in Human Uveitis

Abstract

Introduction Uveitis has played an important role in the evolution of autoimmune theory. Sympathetic ophthalmia has been postulated,1classified, and perhaps demonstrated2to be such an entity. Autoantibodies have been found in numerous diseases.3,4These findings have reinforced the idea of autoimmunity as a mechanism in disease. The concept of autoimmunity was proposed and studied extensively by Elschnig in 1910. He was able to show complement fixing antibodies to uveal tissue in experimental animals immunized with such tissue. He also showed a cross reactivity between the uveas of different species, reinforcing the then popular concept of organ specificity postulated by Uhlenhuth.5 Woods,6having repeated Elschnig's experiments, showed an immune reaction in patients with sympathetic uveitis by means of an intradermal test. These tests were done with human uveal tissue extracts. Recently, Hallett7demonstrated complement fixing antibodies in over half of an unselected group of