[Immunologic disorders in patients with idiopathic subretinal neovascular membrane]

The authors analyze the results of comprehensive clinical and immunologic examinations of 52 patients with this condition (SNVM) in its active and inactive phases, angiographically confirmed, aged 19 to 46; 32 of these were women (61.5%), 20 (38.4%) men. A complex of immunologic methods was employed to reveal the etiology of the condition and the immune status of SNMV patients. The origin of the condition was identified in 44.2% of patients; it was toxoplasmic in 19.2, autoimmune in 15.4, tuberculous in 7.7, and mixed toxoplasmic and tuberculous in 1.9% of cases. T lymphocyte functional activity was inhibited in 37.5% of patients with the exudative hemorrhagic phase of SNMV and in 16.7% of those in the cicatrization phase. Changes in the humoral immunity presenting as gammapathies were detected in 34% of patients, those manifesting by hyperconcentrations of circulating immune complexes in 66.7%, and of cryoglobulins in 37.8% of patients. Krypton laser coagulation was employed in multiple-modality treatment of patients with SNMV. The remissions persisted for 3-5 years.