Cytokine and Molecular Analyses of Intraocular Lymphoma

Purpose: The authors investigate the efficacy of using the cytokine levels and clonal heavy-chain immunoglobulin (IgH) gene rearrangements in the vitreous as adjunctive tools to diagnose intraocular lymphoma (IOL). Methods: The IL-10 and IL-6 levels and IgH gene rearrangements were analyzed in vitreous samples from 8 cases of IOL and in 14 uveitis patients. Results: The level of IL-10 with an IL-10/IL-6 ratio > 1 was significantly higher in all eyes with IOL. B-cell monoclonality was detected in only 5 of 8 eyes with IOL. Conclusions: The measurements of the levels of cytokines are valuable as a reliable biomarker.