Granulomas in sympathetic ophthalmia and sarcoidosis. Immunohistochemical study
C. C. Chan, D. BenEzra, S. M. Hsu, A. G. Palestine and R. B. Nussenblatt
Monoclonal antibodies were used to identify cells that form choroidal
granulomas and Dalen-Fuchs nodules in sympathetic ophthalmia as well as the
granulomas of sarcoid. Immunohistochemical analysis of frozen sections of
fresh human tissues obtained after enucleation (sympathetic ophthalmia) and
lung biopsy (sarcoid) was performed by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex
method. The majority of the inflammatory cells within these lesions were
identical and were composed mainly of cells originating from bone
marrow-derived monocytes (reticuloendothelial system) probably representing
immunologically stimulated granulomas. This study suggests possible immune
phenomena that may take part in the pathogenesis of sympathetic ophthalmia
and provides some insights into the possible mechanism of formation of
choroidal granulomas and Dalen-Fuchs nodules in this disease.
