Serum Anti-carbonic Anhydrase Antibodies and Oxidant-Antioxidant Balance in Patients with Acute Anterior Uveitis

Purpose: To study the existence of anti-carbonic anhydrase antibodies (anti-CA-I&II) in acute anterior uveitis (AAU) patients and to analyze the relationship between the levels of these antibodies and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant capacity (TOC), oxidative stress index (OSI), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Methods: Forty-five AAU cases and 43 healthy controls were enrolled in this prospective study. Results: The average anti-CA I and II antibody levels were 0.433 +/- 0.306 and 0.358 +/- 0.261 IU/mL, respectively, in the AAU group and 0.275 +/- 0.147 and 0.268 +/- 0.108 IU/mL, respectively, in the control group (p = 0.004 and p = 0.036, respectively). In addition, it was found that the TOC, OSI, and MDA levels in the AAU subjects were statistically significantly higher than those of the control subjects. Conclusions: These results suggest that autoimmune responses against CA I and CA II and an altered serum oxidant-antioxidant balance may be involved in the pathogenesis of AAU.