Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:871-874 ( August )
Elevated serum IL-8 levels are associated with disease activity
in idiopathic intermediate uveitis
Anne-Marie Klok,a b
Leny Luyendijk,a
Michel J W Zaal,b
Aniki Rothova,c
C Erik Hack,e
Aize Kijlstraa d
a Department of
Ophthalmo-Immunology, Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute,
Amsterdam, b Department of Ophthalmology, Free University,
Amsterdam, c Department of Ophthalmology University of
Utrecht, Utrecht, d Department
of Ophthalmology, University of Amsterdam, e Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross
Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam and Laboratory for Experimental
and Clinical Immunology, University of Amsterdam
Correspondence to: Anne-Marie Klok, MD, Department of
Ophthalmo-Immunology, Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute,
Amsterdam, PO Box 12141, 1100 AC Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Accepted for publication 26 February 1998
AIM
To
find a laboratory indicator for systemic involvement in intermediate uveitis.
METHODSInterleukin 8 (IL-8) and C reactive protein (CRP) serum levels were measured in
patients with idiopathic intermediate uveitis (n=61), uveitis controls
(n=143), and normal controls (n=29). The records of those with
intermediate uveitis were reviewed with the emphasis on disease
activity and severity as characterised by the presence of cystoid
macular oedema, vitreous exudates or snowbank formation, papillitis,
and periphlebitis.
RESULTSIncreased
serum IL-8 (
20 pg/ml) was found in 27 out of 61 patients with
intermediate uveitis (p< 0.01), 12 of 27 patients with sarcoid uveitis
(p<0.05), in 19 of 30 patients with HLA-B27 associated acute anterior
uveitis (p<0.05), and in five of 29 healthy controls. Raised IL-8
levels in intermediate uveitis were significantly associated with
active disease (p<0.001) and the presence of vitreous exudates
(p<0.001), papillitis, and periphlebitis (p<0.01). Elevated CRP
levels were found in 12 of the 143 uveitis controls but in none of the
intermediate uveitis patients or normal controls. During follow up an
associated systemic disease was more frequently noticed in patients
with an elevated serum IL-8 at entry into the study.
CONCLUSIONSElevated
IL-8 serum levels were found in patients with active intermediate
uveitis of unknown origin. An elevated IL-8 level seems to predispose
the patient to a later development of associated systemic disease.
Keywords:
C reactive protein;
interleukin
8;
uveitis;
multiple sclerosis;
sarcoidosis
© 1998 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
