[Fluorophotometry of changes of hemato-ocular barriers in intermediate uveitis]

Intermediate uveitis presents a characteristic clinical picture with inflammation in the vitreous and peripheral retina. From a physiological point of view, the disease is characterised by a rupture of blood-ocular barriers. To determine the sites involved, a vitreous fluorophotometry was performed in patients with intermediate uveitis and in a group of healthy patients.

Seventy-one patients with an intermediate uveitis were studied by vitreous fluorophotometry. Anterior chamber and posterior segment fluorophotometric findings were measured 5 and 60 minutes after injection of fluorescein. Results were compared to a group of healthy patients.

Vitreous fluorophotometry demonstrated abnormal leakage of fluorescein in all vitreous sectors of the patients suffering from uveitis compared with the control group (p < 0.001). In the anterior chamber, leakage of fluorescein was not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Results obtained suggest that intermediate uveitis involves a generalized permeability disturbance of the posterior segment secondary to a diffuse vasculitis. However, in the anterior segment this disturbance is not found.