Blood-aqueous barrier in pseudoexfoliation syndrome: evaluation by immunohistochemical staining of endogenous albumin

Alterations of the integrity of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) are frequent findings in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PSX). Immunohistochemical staining for the demonstration of albumin was used to analyze the BAB in 10 eyes with PSX without previous intraocular surgery and in 10 age-matched normal control eyes. In eyes with PSX, small amounts of albumin were detected along the anterior surface of the iris in 7, in the anterior chamber in 1, along the ciliary epithelium in 4, and in the trabecular meshwork in 9 of 10 eyes. PSX material was also immunoreactive. In the 10 normal control eyes, albumin was detected anterior to the iris stroma in 1 eye, in the anterior chamber in 2 eyes, in the trabecular meshwork in 1 eye, but not internal to the ciliary epithelium. Our findings indicate that impairment of the BAB in PSX can be localized at the level of the iris and, less frequently or to a lesser extent, at the level of the ciliary body.