Immunoassay of serum muramidase (lysozyme) in ocular diseases.

ABSTRACT

Serum levels of muramidase activity were measured in 162 patients with different ocular diseases and 84 healthy subjects by electro-immuno-diffusion technique. We demonstrated for the first time that electro-immuno-diffusion technique could be successfully applied for the estimation of serum muramidase concentrations. Serum muramidase was found to be high in significant number of cases with granulomatous uveitis, tuberculous keratitis, central serous retinopathy and Eales' disease. Tuberculosis was presumed to be the cause in them by the process of exlusion. Patients with high serum muramidase activity were subjected to anti-tubercular treatment with a marked clinical improvement. It is suggested that high serum muramidase could be an useful parameter in deciding the line of treatment in patients with ocular diseases of uncertain etiology. Serum muramidase concentrations showed return to normal levels with the clinical improvement of the diseases with treatment. It increased again with the re-appearance of the activity of the diseases.