Leukotrienes in the Aqueous Humor of Patients With Uveitis

• Utilizing chromatographic and radioimmunoassay techniques, we measured the concentration of leukotriene (LT) B₄ and LTC₄/D₄/E₄ in the aqueous humor of 14 patients with uveitis and seven patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty or routine cataract extraction. Leukotriene B₄ was detected in 11 of 14 patients with uveitis (mean, 0.96 pmole/ mL), and LTC₄/D₄/E₄ was found in 12 of 14 patients with uveitis (mean, 2.0 pmole/mL). In the control group, LTB₄ was detected in six of seven patients (mean, 0.57 pmole/mL), and LTC₄/D₄/E₄ was found in six of seven patients (mean, 1.9 pmole/mL). Leukotriene levels did not correlate with clinically assessed aqueous cell and flare. Mean levels of LT in patients with uveitis receiving corticosteroids were nearly double those found in non-steroid-treated patients. Despite apparent differences in LT levels, none of the above differences reached statistical significance.