Manfred Zierhut - Böcker

In recent years the importance of antigen-presenting cells and their influence on the eyes has been elucidated. We have learned that nearly every structure of the eye harbors these cells, yet they differ in their activities and thus in the ways in which they protect against - or participate in - diseases of the eye. Antigen-Presenting Cells and the Eye summarizes current knowledge about ACPs in general, and their role in the eye, in particular.

Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron in the outer shell or an electron that was damaged from either attack or from a poor splitting bond. After a free radical is formed it will continue to attack other molecules, which usually results in the damage of tissue or destruction of a healthy cell. Free radicals arise normally through metabolism. However, sometimes the body’s immune system will create them on purpose to neutralize viruses and bacteria. Free radicals are implicated in many ophthalmic disorders including uveitis, optic nerve damage, retinal ischemia, and macular degeneration. Free Radicals in Ophthalmic Disorders presents the most current knowledge pertaining to the role of free radicals/oxidants in ocular disorders, and the use of antioxidants in the prevention of these disorders.Written by today’s leading ocular scientists and clinicians, Free Radicals in Ophthalmic Disorders: gives comprehensive coverage of the role of free radicals/oxidants in ocular disorderscovers the use of antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress and ocular tissue damageexamines external factors that may result in the stimulation and heightened occurrence of free radicals/oxidants

Individual sections are devoted to uveitis associated with systemic disorders, uveitis syndromes restricted to the eye, bacterial uveitis, viral uveitis, fungal uveitis, parasitic uveitis, uveitis caused by other microbes, traumatic uveitis, and masquerade syndromes.

Ocular allergy is the most frequently diagnosed immune disorder of the eye. This book examines the immunologic reactions of ocular allergy in comparison to allergic skin diseases, reviews recent advances in the pathophysiology of ocular allergy and summarizes current clinical knowledge and treatment strategies. It explains the epidemiology of ocular allergy, the role of the environment in allergy, and the clinical manifestation of dermal and ocular allergic disorders. In-depth coverage of vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis, seasonal conjunctivitis, urticaria, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hypersensitivity vasculitis, contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis is also included.

Behçet's Disease (BD) is one of the most-studied systemic disorders characterized by an occlusive vasculopathy of multiple organs. The etiology and pathogenesis of BD are still unclear, but there is evidence for genetic, immunologic and infectious factors in the onset and throughout the course of the disease. Immunology of Behçet's Disease highlights various aspects of BD. After an epidemiological overview, the clinical presentation of ocular and non-ocular symptoms of BD are summarized. The immunopathological changes reflect a chronic vasculitis of arterioles, venules and capillaries. The role of T-cells, but also of NK-T-cells, secreted cytokines and neutrophils is covered. For years microorganisms have been under investigation as initiating BD and, in particular, immune reactions against various microbial heat shock proteins could be an important etiological factor. It has been shown that the pathogenic gene involved in the development of BD is pinpointed to HLA-B51. Finally, the treatment of BD is discussed in detail, including new options like anti-TNF-alpha-antibodies and interferon-alpha. Immunology of Behçet's Disease summarizes our knowledge regarding the most important factors that induce or trigger BD and will stimulate research in the field and help to initiate new ideas.