ascorbic-acid and Uveitis

The human system possesses antioxidants that act harmoniously to neutralize the harmful oxidants. This study was aimed to evaluate the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as a single parameter in Eales' disease (ED) and in an acute inflammatory condition such as uveitis and in cataract which is chronic, compared to healthy controls.. The TAC assay was done spectrophotometrically in the serum of Eales' disease cases (n=20) as well as in other ocular pathologies involving oxidative stress namely, uveitis and cataract (n=20 each). The oxidative stress measured in terms of TBARS, was correlated with the TAC. Individual antioxidants namely vitamin C, E and glutathione were also estimated and correlated with TAC.. TAC was found to be significantly lower in Eales' disease with active vasculitis (0.28 ± 0.09 mM, P<0.001), Eales' disease with healed vasculitis (0.67 ± 0.09 mM), uveitis (0.46 ± 0.09 mM, P<0.001) and cataract (0.53 ± 0.1 mM, P=0.001) compared to the healthy controls, with a TAC level of 0.77 ± 0.09 mM. The TAC was found to correlate positively with vitamin E levels (P=0.05), GSH (P=0.02) but not with vitamin C, as seen in ED cases. In ED cases supplemented with vitamin E and C, there was a significant increase in the TAC level (P=0.02).. The TAC measurement provided a comprehensive assay for establishing a link between the antioxidant capacity and the risk of disease as well as monitoring antioxidant therapy. This method is a good substitute for assay of individual antioxidants as it clearly gives the status of the oxidative stress in the disease process.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Cataract; Female; Glutathione; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Oxidative Stress; Retinal Vasculitis; Spectrophotometry; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Uveitis; Vitamin E

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is present at high levels in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and has been used as a marker to quantify the accumulation of PMNs in inflamed tissues. MPO activity in inflamed ocular tissues was inhibited by aspirates of aqueous humor. This inhibition could be duplicated by the addition of ascorbic acid at concentrations equivalent to those present in the aliquots of aqueous humor. Similarly, aqueous humor and ascorbic acid inhibited MPO from isolated rabbit leukocytes. Therefore, ascorbic acid appears to inhibit the functional activity of the peroxidase in PMNs, thus preventing potential tissue damage by this enzyme when released during leukocyte degranulation in inflammation. Ascorbic acid might fulfill a role as an endogenous anti-inflammatory agent in the eye.

Topics: Animals; Aqueous Humor; Ascorbic Acid; Ciliary Body; Depression, Chemical; Iritis; Neutrophils; Peroxidase; Peroxidases; Rabbits; Uveitis

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Corneal Injuries; Epithelium; Foreign-Body Reaction; Glyoxylates; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Melanins; Metabolic Diseases; Oxalates; Retinal Detachment; Retinal Diseases; Uveitis; X-Ray Diffraction

Topics: Animals; Aqueous Humor; Ascorbic Acid; Biological Transport, Active; Endotoxins; Eye Proteins; Injections; Intraocular Pressure; Iritis; Leukocytes; Prostaglandins; Rabbits; Recurrence; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Shigella flexneri; Tritium; Uvea; Uveitis; Vitreous Body

Topics: Administration, Topical; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Chloramphenicol; Cortisone; Dexamethasone; Humans; Keratitis; Keratitis, Dendritic; Ophthalmic Solutions; Prednisolone; Streptomycin; Uveitis

Topics: Acetazolamide; Administration, Topical; Ascorbic Acid; Chorioretinitis; Drug Therapy; Eye; Humans; Methylprednisolone; Mydriatics; Phenylephrine; Prednisolone; Pyrimethamine; Sulfamethoxypyridazine; Toxicology; Toxoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis, Ocular; Uveitis

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Flavonoids; Hemostatics; Hesperidin; Ketones; Phosphates; Rabbits; Uveitis; Vitamins