Vitreous inflammatory cells

What it means

The presence of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes and macrophages in the vitreous.

Normally, there are no leukocytes in the vitreous as this is an immune-privileged site. If the blood-retinal barrier is disrupted, then leukocytes gain access to the vitreous. Vitreous inflammatory cells can be measured by flow cytometry of vitreous fluid.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category