ELEVATED SERUM IL-8 LEVELS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASE-ACTIVITY IN IDIOPATHIC INTERMEDIATE UVEITIS

Aim-To find a laboratory indicator for systemic involvement in interme diate uveitis. Methods-Interleukin 8 (IL-8) and C reactive protein (CR P) serum levels were measured in patients with idiopathic intermediate uveitis (n=61), uveitis controls (n=143), and normal controls (n=29). The records of those with intermediate uveitis were reviewed with the emphasis on disease activity and severity as characterised by the pre sence of cystoid macular oedema, vitreous exudates or snowbank formati on, papillitis, and periphlebitis. Results-Increased serum IL-8 (great er than or equal to 20 pg/ mi) was found in 27 out of 61 patients with intermediate uveitis (p< 0.01), 12 of 27 patients with sarcoid uveiti s (p<0.05), in 19 of 30 patients with HLA-B27 associated acute anterio r uveitis (p<0.05), and in five of 29 healthy controls. Raised IL-8 le vels in intermediate uveitis were significantly associated with active disease (p<0.001) and the presence of vitreous exudates (p<0.001), pa pillitis, and periphlebitis (p<0.01). Elevated CRP levels were found i n 12 of the 143 uveitis controls but in none of the intermediate uveit is patients or normal controls. During follow up an associated systemi c disease was more frequently noticed in patients with an elevated ser um IL-8 at entry into the study. Conclusions-Elevated IL-8 serum level s were found in patients with active intermediate uveitis of unknown o rigin. An elevated IL-8 level seems to predispose the patient to a lat er development of associated systemic disease.