[Clinical features of HLA-B27 positive and negative uveitis]

A total of 147 patients with uveitis concomitant with spondyloarthritis were examined. HLA-B27 histocompatibility antigen was detected in 75.5% patients. Men, mainly young and middle-aged, suffering from sacroileitis, developed the disease 2.5 times more often. Involvement of the uveal tract manifested by acute anterior fibrinous plastic uveitis (83.7%), rarely by anterior serous uveitis (16.3%). Bilateral uveitis occurred in 46.8% patients. HLA-B27-associated uveitis was characterized by a frequently relapsing course. On the other hand, fundus oculi abnormalities were detected in 12.6% patients with anterior uveitis; this abnormality occurs 4 times more often in subjects with negative HLA-B27 antigen, peripheral uveitis occurring 7 times more often. Complications were observed in 29.5% patients, their frequency and severity did not depend on the presence of HLA-B27 antigen.