Cataracts in Uveitis.

One of the most important components in the pathogenesis of lens opacification related to uveitis appears to be lens permeability changes consisting of potassium loss, sodium and water intake and late leakage of cytoplasmic constituents. These changes may be induced by 'Lens Permeability Factors' present and active in the aqueous humor during inflammation, factors that include antigen-antibody complexes, antilens and antiuveoretinal antibodies, phospholipase A and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The damage caused by at least one of these factors, LPC, may be counteracted in vitro by a monosialoganglioside, (GM1). An in vivo experiment, still in progress, suggests that GM1 has a positive effect even in cases of incipient lens opacification related to uveitis.