Epidemiology of ocular involvement in autoimmune diseases

The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of ocular manifestations in Romanian rheumatic patients admitted in a specialized rheumatology clinic since January 2006 till June 2007. The secondary outcome was the occurrence of adverse visual events associated with systemic therapy.

Information regarding rheumatic and ocular diseases was extracted from medical records system available in "I. Cantacuzino" Clinical Hospital in Bucharest. The prevalence of ocular involvement reported passively by rheumatologists (retrospective descriptive study of 375 different cases of rheumatic patients) was compared with the literature data.

There were 29 cases of ocular manifestations. Ocular manifestation included keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), anterior uveitis, conjunctivitis, retinal vasculitis and optic neuritis. Complications clearly related to steroid therapy were cataracts and glaucoma. One case with typical "bull's eye" maculopathy due to Hydroxychloroquine treatment was detected.

The main conclusion of our study is that the rheumatic patients need to be referred to an ophthalmologist for a precocious diagnosis of ocular involvement and an optimal treatment of eye manifestations.