[An immunological study of endogenous uveitis: circulating immune complexes and their specific characteristics]

The levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in 77 patients with endogenous uveitis (EU) were found significantly higher than in healthy controls, and also closely correlated with activity of the disease. The CIC level declined during remission and became essentially normal when the disease recovered. CIC was positive in 20 (37.7%) of the 77 cases, and the positive rate was the highest (58.6%) in patients with acute EU. Retinal soluble antigen was found in CIC of 9 patients. The serum C3 level was in negative correlation with the CIC level, and restored to normal on recovery of the disease. The findings indicated that CIC played an important role in the pathogenesis of EU.