Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis: An Intraocular Inflammatory Mouse Model
Published on: January 12, 2022
[Systemic autoimmune disease in patients with uveitis]
J Carbone1, E Sarmiento, D Micheloud
1Unidad de Inmunología Clínica, Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. carbone@teleline.es
Objective:
A descriptive study was conducted on patients with uveitis to determine the frequency of associated autoimmune systemic diseases.
Methods:
64 patients with uveitis were studied. The patients were not known to have an underlying autoimmune systemic disease prior to the diagnosis of uveitis. All patients had the following immunological tests performed: serum immunoglobulins, complement components, circulating immune complexes (CIC), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) and major histocompatibilty complex antigens.
Results:
A relationship with a sub-clinical autoimmune systemic disorder could be presumed in eleven cases (17.2%). This was defined by positive autoantibodies (ANA, ANCA or ACA) in the presence of complement consumption, hyper-gammaglobulinemia or increased CIC without clinical criteria of a defined autoimmune disease. A definite association with systemic autoimmune disease was defined in four patients (6.25%). The observed autoimmune systemic diseases were Sjögren's syndrome (n=2, 3.13%), anti-phospholipid syndrome associated with lupus-like disease (n=1, 1.6%), and systemic vasculitis (n=1, 1.6%). Lupus-like disease (n=4, 6.25%) was also observed.
Conclusion:
In a significant proportion of patients with uveitis an autoimmune systemic disorder may be present and should be looked for.
Related Concept Videos
Autoimmune Disorders
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions

