HLA-B27--associated uveitis

HLA-B27--associated acute anterior uveitis, a relatively common form of uveal inflammation, has a sufficiently characteristic presentation that the diagnosis is often suggested by clinical assessment, although testing for HLA-B27 status provides strong support for the diagnosis. This condition usually responds readily to topical corticosteroid therapy, and the prognosis is generally good. Atypical cases may be chronic, complicated by visually disabling complications or posterior eye involvement. Chronic or progressive forms of the disorder may require systemic immunosuppression. A diagnosis of HLA-B27--associated uveitis may bring an associated systemic condition to medical attention for the first time. Ongoing research promises to elucidate the intriguing relationship between the HLA-B27 molecule, gram-negative bacterial infection, and inflammatory disease.