Week 1.06 Uveitis Flashcards
(37 cards)
What is vasodilation
Widening of blood vessels
What does erythema mean
Redness due to increase to blood flow
Increased vessel permeability
- oedema (swelling) due to fluid leakage
- proteins and white blood cells leak into adjacent tissues due to a breakdown in vascular endothelium
In acute inflammation what is the process of white blood cells responding to injury called
Phagocytosis
In chronic inflammation what are the white blood cells called that resound to injury
Lymphocytes - associated with cell mediated immunity
Macrophages - phagocytose the infective organism
Oedema may be caused by either…
Transudate - low cell content, low protein content, clear and watery - shoes blisters
Exudates - high cell content, high protein content, cloudy and viscous - pus
What are the inflammatory mediators
They initiate regulate and resolve inflammation
Histamines (released in hay fever) - vasodilation and increased permeability
Kinins (pain makes it hurt) - vasodilation and increased permeability
Prostaglandins - intensify action of histamine and kinins
Pain is due to what inflammatory mediators
Kinins e.g. bradykinins sensitises nervous tissues (more likely yo respond then)
Prostaglandins - intensifies and prolongs pain
Increased pressure from oedema
What is anterior uveitis
Inflammatory disease affecting anterior segment of the eye
Cornea, iris, ciliary body and up to anterior vitreous
Definition: an inflammatory condition affecting the uveal tract which may be acute or chorionic in its clinical course
Typical age group for anterior uveitis
20-50yrs
The suffix -itis means?
Inflammation
What are the signs and symptoms of anterior uveitis
- pain
- photophobia
- circumlimbal injection
- miotic pupil
- flare
- iop
- keratin precipitates
- mild VA reduction
Why do we have a miotic pupil in ant uveitis
As a result of spasm in the sphincter muscle of the iris
Does IOP in ant uveitis increase or decrease
May be reduced in the active stage as ciliary body is inflamed - reduced aqueous production
Some cases give rise to raised IOP in the acute phase - very rare
What is flare a result of
Result of protein leaking into the anterior chamber in inflammatory reactions
What are keratin precipitates
Cellular deposits on corneal epithelium – can become sticky and pigmented
Generally distributed in the lower cornea due to convection currents in the anterior chamber
What are the complications of anterior uveitis
- Synechiae – acute
- Cataract – more long term
- Band keratopathy – long term
- Glaucoma
What’s synechiae
Iris sticks itself down to the front surface of the lens – posterior synechiae
Fluid from leaky vessels stick iris to lens
Peripheral anterior synechiae may also be seen where the iris adheres to structures in the angle
What is band keratopathy
Calcium deposits in anterior part of bowman’s membrane
Occurs in chronic uveitis - esp in children
May be removed by excimer laser - associated with hyperopic shift
How is cataract a complication of ant uveitis
Cataract may be due to:
Inflammation - chronic uveitis
Corticosteroid therapy - anterior uveitis treated with topical steroids and one of the complications is cataract
How is glaucoma a complication in ant uveitis
- corticosteroid therapy
- protein or cellular occlusion of the angle
- synechiae
What is posterior uveitis
Inflammatory disease affecting the posterior segment of the eye
Which is more rare ant or post uveitis
Posterior uveitis
1.1 per 100,000
Ant
14 to 52.4 per 100,00
What is panuveitis
Entire uveal tract inflamed
Associated with trauma or Intraocular surgery
- cataract
- retinal detachment
Bilateral - even when only one eye is operated on
Surgery M = F
Trauma M > F
