[Viral and non-viral infections in the etiopathogenesis of uveitis].

The article reviews literature and proprietary data on the role of pathogens in the etiology of infectious and non-infectious uveitis. Infectious uveitis is caused by active intraocular replication of the virus (herpesvirus, acute stage of enterovirus), or by long-term persistence of the viruses in eye tissues (Fuchs syndrome associated with rubella virus, late complications of enterovirus uveitis). Clinical picture, severity, outcomes of infectious uveitis depend on the pathogen, adequacy of the immune response and genetic characteristics of the patient. Infections trigger the development of non-infectious uveitis, including autoimmune. Their trigger mechanisms involve antigenic mimicry, bystander activation, epitope spreading, presence of superantigens, intestinal microbiota. An uncontrolled, excessive host immune response contributes to cell destruction even after removal of the infection.