[Uveitis research 1963-1993. 1993 Bruppach Lecture of the Zurich University]

Considerations on the evolution of research on uveitis in the last thirty years. In the sixties, one was mainly looking for the etiology of the disease. Simultaneous serological investigations in serum and aqueous humor allowed in positive cases to conclude on a local antibody production, and thus certify the role of a given microbiological agent, for instance a virus. In the same time however, the importance of autantigens such as lens or uvea tissues was recognized. Even more important was the discovery of the s-antigen (soluble antigen) from the outer segments of the retinal photoreceptors, and with it the development of the model EAU (experimental autoimmune uveitis). Since 1970, multiple pathogenetical, for instance genetic, processes of uveitis could be studied on molecular-biological level, among them the mechanisms of antigen presentation or the role of the various lymphocyte subpopulations during the immune response. There was also an evolution about therapy of uveitis during these 30 years. Main drugs were in the sixties steroids and classical cytostatics, later came cyclosporin-A and other immune modulatory drugs such as FK-506. Finally, still only experimental, new methods of modulation of the disease are studied, such as changes in the presentation of the antigen or modulation of the immune response through monoclonal antibodies.