Clinical laboratory testing for the diagnosis of systemic disease associated with anterior uveitis

In many cases, anterior uveitis is not an isolated ocular entity but the harbinger of systemic disease. The diagnosis of an underlying disease is confirmed through laboratory testing and physical examination. Rather than ordering a broad spectrum of unnecessary tests, the clinician must correlate the patient's history with symptoms and physical signs to tailor laboratory testing to the individual. Subsequent co-management of the patient with an internist or appropriate specialist ensures that total patient care, ocular and systemic, will be achieved. This discussion addresses when and what laboratory testing to order in anterior uveitis cases with specific attention to why each auxilliary test is appropriate.