[Corneal ulcers in systemic autoimmunologic diseases]

Keratolysis is a rare severe complication following systemic autoimmunologic diseases. Despite of complex therapeutic treatments, the prognosis is very poor.

Ten eyes from seven patients with corneal ulcers were reported (age 45 - 73 years, mean 63 years; 6 women, 1 man). The corneal ulcer was perforated in 7 eyes. Five patients suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, and one patient developed a Sjögren's syndrome. Besides, one patient had shown both autoimmunologic diseases. After clinical attendance, visual acuity in the eyes with nonperforated ulcers was between 0.1 and 0.4, and in the eyes with perforated ulcers between light perception and 0.2.

In 7 eyes with perforated corneal ulcers an emergency tectonic conjunctival plasty and, 1 - 2 days later, a keratoplasty had been performed. Postoperatively, local therapies had been initiated with antibiotic and immunosuppressive eyedrops as well as with conventional drops for dry-eye symptoms. Because of the autoimmunologic diseases of the patients, a systemic immunosuppressive therapy had been arranged. Follow-up period had been between 4 weeks and 3,5 years (mean 16 months). In the three eyes with nonperforated ulcers which received an antibiotic and immunosuppressive treatment, visual acuity was found at 1 / 20 and 0.4. However, in spite of stabilized findings in the 5 eyes with perforated ulcers, the visual acuity was in this case only between light perception and 0.05. One patient with a perforated ulcer and one patient with a recurrent corneal perforation after keratoplasty refused further operative procedures. Finally, both eyes had to undergo evisceration.

Despite of intensive local and systemic immunosuppressive as well as operative therapies, corneal ulcers associated with autoimmunologic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome) may cause a marked decrease of visual acuity or the loss of an eye. With regard to the healthy eye, an immunosuppressive therapy for life is most important.