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Anti-retinal Antibodies in Sarcoidosis
Carmen L Avendaño-Monje1,2, Miguel Cordero-Coma2,3, José L Mauriz2
1Immunology Service and Uveitis Unit, University Hospital of León, León, Spain.
Purpose:
To measure, characterize, and evaluate the clinical significance of anti-retinal antibodies in patients with sarcoid uveitis.
Subjects/Methods:
Prospective study of anti-retinal antibodies in 45 patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis (25 with and 20 without uveitis). Results were compared with patients with confirmed infectious uveitis (n = 40) and non-infectious uveitis (n = 40).
Results:
Among sarcoidosis patients, anti-retinal antibodies were positive in 23/25 patients with uveitis and in 15/20 without uveitis [P = ns]. The most common antigens recognized were carbonic anhydrase II (14/23) and α-enolase (6/23). Anti-carbonic anhydrase II autoantibodies were infrequently detected in sarcoidosis patients without uveitis (2 out 15, P < .001), in patients with infectious uveitis (1 out 18, P < .001), and in patients with non-infectious uveitis (8 out 37, P < .001).
Conclusions:
Anti-retinal antibodies recognizing carbonic anhydrase II are common in sarcoid uveitis. Although not fully sensitive and specific, they might be a useful non-invasive diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of sarcoid uveitis.

