[Antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 in the aqueous humor of HTLV-I associated uveitis].

To elucidate the pathomechanism of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) associated uveitis (HAU), we assessed antibodies to HTLV-I and IgG for paired samples of serum and aqueous humor. Seven of 10 samples from HAU patients showed antibodies to HTLV-I in the aqueous humor with antibody titer ranging from 16 to 128, and five of these samples showed significantly high antibody quotients as calculated by reference to the IgG levels in the serum and aqueous humor, hence suggesting local production of antibodies rather than their transfer from the serum. On the other hand, eight of 45 control samples from HTLV-I carriers with senile cataract but without uveitis had antibodies to HTLV-I in the aqueous humor with antibody titer ranging from 8 to 128, but none of these samples showed high antibody quotient. We conclude that, although antibodies to HTLV-I in aqueous humor were detected in those HAU and control cases which showed high antibody titer in the serum, intraocular synthesis of antibodies to HTLV-I may sometimes occur in HAU.