Purpose: To assess the correlation between laser flare measurements and anterior chamber IgG/albumin concentrations in eyes with mild to severe inflammation.
Materials and methods: Seventeen eyes of 17 patients with endogenous uveitis underwent diagnostic paracentesis. IgG and albumin concentrations were determined from the samples of aqueous humor. Laser flare measurements were performed 1 h prior to paracentesis. The relationship between flare measurements and IgG/albumin concentrations was studied be plotting the data on a logarithmic scale.
Results: The flare measurement was 97.5+/-150.0 photons ms (mean +/- SD; range 4.3-528.7). The IgG concentration was 41.0+/-51.4 mg/dl mean +/- SD; range 0.2-200). The albumin concentration was 184.6+/-196.2 mg/dl (mean +/- SD; range 4-535). When plotted on a logarithmic scale, there was a statistically significant linear relationship between the flare measurements and the anterior chamber IgG or albumin concentrations (y = 1.14x-0.64, r= 0.87, p<0.001 for IgG; y = 1.39x-0.1, r= 0.94, p<0.001 for albumin).
Conclusion: Laser flare photometry is an accurate technique for assessing anterior chamber inflammation. Flare measurements strongly correlate with blood-aqueous barrier breakdown.