Biological Markers in Retinal Vasculitis

This study will look for biological markers of primary retinal vasculitis that can be useful in understanding what causes the disease. It will evaluate its progression, and develop and monitor treatments. Biological markers are substances (e.g., chemicals called cytokines and chemokines or antibodies) that are associated with a disease or condition such as retinal vasculitis. Retinal vasculitis is an inflammation of blood vessels in the retina that can cause retinal damage and subsequent loss of vision. It can occur by itself (primary retinal vasculitis), or it can be part of a systemic vascular disease. The study will evaluate patients with primary retinal vasculitis and compare the findings with those of two other groups of patients with retinal vasculitis patients with Behcet's syndrome and HIV-infected patients undergoing HAART therapy. Patients over 10 years of age with sight-threatening retinal vasculitis may be eligible for this study. (page 6 of the protocol, under #4 Study Design and Methods, says the age range is 2 years old and above; page 10, under #5 Participant Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria, says initial enrollment will include all patients over the age of 10 years). Upon entering the study, participants will have about 10 teaspoons of blood withdrawn from an arm vein through a needle and again 6 months and 12 months later. The blood samples will be analyzed for cytokines, chemokines or adhesion molecules, certain types of antibodies, and infectious agents.