Abstract
Purpose::
The frequency of sarcoid-associated uveits is high in both the ages of 20s and 50s. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether there are different features of sarcoid-associated uveits between these two age generations.
Methods::
The subjects were 107 who had chronic sarcoid-associated uveitis. The age of ocular onset was investigated and subjects were divided into the younger or older group. We prospectively investigated the frequency of each of the following features: 1) exudative cells in the anterior chamber, 2) keratic precipitates (KPs) 3) nodules in the iris or anterior chamber angle, 4) vitreous cells and haze, 5) retinal vasculitis with sheathing, 6) retinal exudates, 7) cystoid macular edema (CME). The appearances of vitreous opacities were also compared.
Results::
The results showed two peaks ages of ocular onset in both 20s and 50s and these subjects could be divided into two groups according to the young and the old groups. KPs were seen in thirty-one eyes (61%) with the young group, and in fifty-three eyes (34%) with the old group. Nodules in iris or anterior chamber angle were observed in twenty-five eyes (49%) with the young group, and in twenty-eight eyes (18%) with the old group. Retinal vasculitis with sheathing was seen in thirty-six eyes (71%) with the young group and in eighty-one eyes (52%) with the old group. These three clinical findings were significantly frequent in the young group than the old group (p<0.01). Vitreous cells and haze were seen in thirty eyes (59%) with the young group and in a hundred seventeen eyes (75%) with the old group. These clinical findings were significantly frequent in the old group than in the young group (p=0.0315). The appearances of vitreous opacity were different with these two groups (p=0.0361).
Conclusions::
In sarcoid-associated uveitis, KPs, nodules in the iris and a chamber angles, and retinal vasculitis were significantly frequent in the younger age than the older age. The appearances of vitreous opacity were different between these two age groups. In conclusion, the clinical features of sarcoid-associated uveitis were quite different by age.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model