[Significance of autoimmune reactions in the development of postoperative uveitis in patients with artificial lenses].

The levels of antibodies to native and denatured DNA in the blood were measured before and in the first days after extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of intraocular lenses. Before surgery anti-DNA antibodies were appreciably more incident in patients with complicated cataracts in comparison with patients with senile cataracts (p < 0.01). A relationship was revealed between increased titers of anti-DNA antibodies before the operation and the development of "sterile" uveitis after it. On the whole, 50% of patients with increased titers of anti-DNA antibodies developed postoperative "sterile" uveitis. In patients with normal preoperative levels of these antibodies uveitis was observed in only 1.8% (p < 0.01). "Sterile" uveitis was arrested with steroids; if therapy was discontinued before antibody levels normalized, uveitis recurred.