Amines in the subretinal fluid and aqueous

We examined 49 samples of subretinal fluid and nine samples of aqueous from patients with retinal detachments. Seven amines (histamine, dopamine, methylamine, ethanolamine, dimethylamine, pyridoxamine, and piperidine) were positively identified and quantitated. The amines in the subretinal fluid were similar to those present in the aqueous. The presence of histamine in the subretinal fluid, observed only in fresh retinal detachment, suggested an inflammatory process, at least in the early stages of some cases of retinal detachment. This is consistent with the clinical observations that mild uveitis frequently accompanies a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.