Abstract
Purpose: :
To analyze the referral patterns and clinical features of anterior uveitis in female patients seen at a University-based eye care center in Chicago.
Methods: :
Retrospective review by ICD-9 code of all female patients diagnosed with anterior uveitis who presented from February 1999-August 2008 to the general ophthalmology and uveitis services of an urban university clinic. Collected data included clinical features which were documented at presentation, resultant ancillary testing and treatment.
Results: :
A total of 462 patients with a mean age of 38.4 years were included in the study. In 46.1% of patients an etiological classification was established. The most common etiology was autoimmune collagen vascular disease (15.3%), followed by sarcoidosis (13.4%). Herpetic eye disease (3.8%), luetic uveitis (3.8%), tuberculosis (3.8%), HLA-B27-associated uveitis (1.9%) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related uveitis (1.9%) were less common causes of anterior uveitis in women. 96.3% of patients received initial treatment with topical corticosteroids and/or a cycloplegic agent. 15.4% of patients required oral corticosteroids and 1.3% of patients required therapy with one or more immunosuppressant agents.
Conclusions: :
Ancillary testing failed to support an etiologic agent in the majority of cases of anterior uveitis in woman. Compared to the uveitis series reported from other centers, autoimmune collagen vascular disease and sarcoidosis were the leading identifiable causes of uveitis in this series. On the other hand, entities like HLA-B27-associated seronegative spondyloarthopathies and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related uveitis were relatively rare. Most patients responded favorably to treatment with topical eye drops, however a significant number required treatment with oral corticosteroid and/ or immunosuppressant agents. Specific visual outcomes and recurrence rates for this group of patients will be discussed.
Keywords: inflammation • anterior chamber • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment