Eye inflammatory pathologies associated with autoimmune systemic diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Ocular inflammation constitutes a frequent clinical manifestation in several systemic autoimmune diseases, being of special relevance in spondyloarthropathies. Our objective is to determine the frequency of systemic autoimmune disease in patients with ocular inflammation that were referred by ophthalmology to the Rheumatology Department of Hospital de Clinicas, and to describe the clinical, demographic and laboratory characteristics of these patients. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of patients with inflammatory eye disease with probable autoimmune etiology referred by ophtalmologists to the National University of Asuncion, Hopsital de Clinicas Department of Rheumatology, between January 2010 and June 2011. Demographic (age, sex), clinical (symptoms, type and site of ocular inflammation, number of episodes, treatment and response to treatment) and laboratory (acute phase reactants, antibodies) characteristics were recorded. Results: A total of 18 patients were included, with an age range from 18 to 69 years. The most common autoimmune eye disease referred by ophthalmology was uveitis. A systemic autoimmune disorder was diagnosed in 9 patients, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, rheumatoid arthritis, Bechet‘s disease, Vogt Koyanagi Harada syndrome and Sjogren syndrome. Discussion: In this study, evaluation by a rheumatologist allowed for diagnosis of a systemic autoimmune disease in 50% of patients. C onsidering the clinical and demographic characteristics of these patients, early referral to an internist or a rheumatologist is important to initiate proper treatment.