Fuchs Heterochromic Uveitis Workup

  • Author: Mansoor Arif, MD, MBBS; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD   more...
 
Updated: Oct 10, 2011
 

Laboratory Studies

  • No laboratory studies are useful to the clinician in making the specific diagnosis of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI). The diagnosis is based on both the clinical history and the physical examination.
  • When the presentation is not typical of FHI, selected laboratory evaluation may be useful to rule out other forms of uveitis that share some clinical characteristics.
    • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) may be useful to the clinician in diagnosing sarcoid uveitis.
    • Microhemagglutinin test for Treponema pallidum aids in the diagnosis of syphilis.
    • Purified protein derivative (PPD) is beneficial to the clinician in diagnosing tuberculosis.
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Imaging Studies

  • Imaging studies are not useful in the evaluation of patients with Fuchs heterochromic uveitis.
  • Chest x-ray may be beneficial in helping to diagnose those patients with sarcoid uveitis.
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Other Tests

  • Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography are used in patients with cystoid macular edema.
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Procedures

  • Previously, anterior chamber paracentesis was considered a diagnostic test for FHI. This procedure is no longer indicated for this purpose.
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Histologic Findings

The loss of pigment from the anterior stroma with hyalinization of blood vessel walls and cellular infiltration was described by Fuchs in 1906. Pathological studies show a combination of inflammatory, degenerative, and atrophic changes. The iris and the ciliary body have a low-grade chronic inflammatory cell infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Although lymphocytes are the predominant infiltrating cells, plasma cells, eosinophils, mast cells, and Russell bodies have all been described. Russell bodies may correlate clinically with the appearance of minute, globular iris crystals, which are typical of FUS. The iris and the ciliary body are atrophic with fibrosis and obliteration of the vascular endothelium with a reduced number of melanocytes. Degenerative changes have been observed in the inner wall of the Schlemm canal and in nerve fibers. Electron microscopy of iridectomy specimens from FHI has shown abnormal melanocytes with loss of dendritic processes and damaged myelinated nerve fibers.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Mansoor Arif, MD, MBBS  Research Associate, Department of Research, Indus Hospital, Pakistan

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

C Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR, FAAO  Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Founder and President, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution

C Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR, FAAO is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Surgeons, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Uveitis Society, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Medical Society, Royal Society of Medicine, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ira G Wong, MD, MS  Associate Director, Clinical Affairs, Uveitis Service, The Francis I Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, University of California at San Francisco; Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California at San Francisco and Stanford University School of Medicine

Ira G Wong, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Allergan, Inc Consulting fee Review panel membership

Specialty Editor Board

John D Sheppard Jr, MD, MMSc  Professor of Ophthalmology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Clinical Director, Thomas R Lee Center for Ocular Pharmacology, Ophthalmology Residency Research Program Director, Eastern Virginia Medical School; President, Virginia Eye Consultants

John D Sheppard Jr, MD, MMSc is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Uveitis Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD  Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

R Christopher Walton, MD  Professor, Director of Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education, University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Regional Medical Center, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St Jude Children's Research Hospital

R Christopher Walton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Healthcare Executives, American Uveitis Society, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and Retina Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lance L Brown, OD, MD  Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Ryan I Huffman, MD, with the literature review and referencing for this article.

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