Heat shock proteins with molecular weight 70 kDa (hsp70) are highly conserv
ed immunogenic intracellular molecules. There are two main subtypes: one is
expressed constitutively (hsc70), while the other is induced under stressf
ul conditions (ihsp70). Using an ELISA directed against recombinant human i
hsp70, antibody titers were determined in patients with defined ocular infl
ammatory conditions (Behcet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH), pars pla
nitis, and sarcoidosis) as well as in a group of age-matched normal volunte
ers. In comparison to healthy controls (n = 14, absorbance 0.269), levels w
ere significantly elevated in Behcet's disease (n = 18; 0.412), sarcoidosis
(n = 15; 0.432), and pars planitis (n = 13; 0.346), but not in VKH (n = 10
; 0.263). A correlation was also noted for treatment versus no treatment in
pars planitis (p = 0.028), but not in other inflammatory conditions. There
was no correlation with the level of intraocular disease activity as defin
ed by vitreous haze and vision drop. Since pars planitis is a purely ocular
condition, circulating levels of ihsp antibodies likely reflect the extent
of disease involvement within the eye.