Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy in patient with rheumatoid arthritis--case report

This case report presents a patient with long-lasting rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of fourth clinical grade, having ocular complications. RA was diagnosed according to current modified ARA criteria from 1987. Upon admission to the Department of Ophthalmology clinical examination revealed anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION), which is not characteristic manifestation of RA in the eye. The occurrence of AION in patients with RA has been explained in literature as a secondary manifestation of hypertension in these patients or, by the presence of other connective tissue disease apart from RA (for example, MCTD--mixed connective tissue disease). Both mentioned causes were excluded in our case, as well as any other condition that could lead to AION. Therefore, we had concluded that AION presented a late complication of RA.