Streptococcal Serology in Uveitis

The Role of the Streptococcus in the Pathogenesis of Anterior Uveitis

“…This has been confirmed by Sch\l=o"\ne and Steen 2 and by Smith and Ashton.3 This observation was originally corroborated by Leopold and Dickinson.4 However, in a re¬ cent communication to us, Leopold has questioned the association of elevated ASL titers and uveitis on the basis of additional evidence. 5 Second, the evidence of a specific hyper¬ sensitivity to streptococci as revealed by skin testing. Using stock streptococcal vaccines, Dr. Woods has shown that 80% of patients with nongranulomatous uveitis responded with a specific streptococcal skin hypersensitivity, whereas only 20% of patients with granulomatous uveitis reacted positively.1 Third, his observation that patients who demonstrated skin hypersensitivity could be desensitized to the specific bacterial products to which they had reacted.1 This therapy either terminated the uveitis or diminished the frequency and severity of the attacks, at the same time prolonging remissions be¬ tween exacerbations.…”