Eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation in ophthalmic lesions of Wegener's granulomatosis
S. D. Trocme, G. B. Bartley, R. J. Campbell, G. J. Gleich and K. M. Leiferman
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
Although eosinophils and neutrophils have been identified in orbital and
corneoscleral tissues in some patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, their
role in the pathogenesis of the disorder is not completely understood. Nine
specimens from six patients with Wegener's granulomatosis and autopsy
controls from patients without ophthalmic disease were evaluated with
indirect immunofluorescence for eosinophil granule major basic protein and
neutrophil elastase. Extracellular deposition of both major basic protein
and elastase was identified in orbital tissues from all the patients with
Wegener's granulomatosis. Two of the specimens were from enucleated eyes
with corneoscleral disease; extracellular deposition of eosinophil major
basic protein was identified in one eye, and extracellular neutrophil
elastase was deposited in both eyes in lesional areas. None of the control
tissues showed major basic protein or elastase deposition. These findings
suggest that both eosinophils and neutrophils participate in the
pathogenesis of the orbital and corneoscleral manifestations of Wegener's
granulomatosis.
