[Significance of autoimmunity in various forms of uveitis]

Autoimmune diseases are the result of a false recognition by the immune system of the own tissue as foreign. Suppressor cells serve to inhibit these mechanisms, however, their influence can be bypassed by other cells. Many antigen structures have been isolated in the uvea. With them it is possible to induce a model of autoimmune uveitis. The diagnostic value of eye specific and non-specific autoantibodies in uveitis patients was studied. In this report are show indications of autoimmune phenomena in the following diseases: sympathetic uveitis, Behçet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome and birdshot retinopathy.