Retina S antigen-induced uveitis. The efficacy of cyclosporine and corticosteroids in treatment

G. Striph, B. Doft, B. Rabin and B. Johnson

This study compares the efficacy of cyclosporine and corticosteroids in the treatment of retina S antigen-induced uveitis (experimental autoimmune uveitis). Forty guinea pigs were immunized with retina S antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant to induce uveitis. After 16 days, animals were divided into groups that received a two-week course of daily intramuscular injections of cyclosporine, corticosteroids, both drugs, or saline. Eyes were graded by a masked retinal specialist for amount of vitreous cells by biomicroscopy, and after enucleation by a masked ocular pathologist for histologic evidence of inflammation. Clinically and histopathologically, animals treated with cyclosporine, or cyclosporine and corticosteroids, had statistically significant reduction of intraocular inflammation compared with controls. Corticosteroids alone had a less beneficial effect. The combined use of cyclosporine and corticosteroids, at the single dose tested, did not demonstrate synergism.