The etiological features of anterior uveitis in a Turkish population

To identify any patterns in the cause of anterior uveitis in a Turkish population and compare them with results from previous studies.

The clinical records of 75 patients between January 2009 and January 2010 were retrospectively analyzed and classified as anterior uveitis according to Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature criteria. Complete blood count, sedimentation rate, chest radiography, purified protein derivative skin test, and venereal disease research laboratory test were done on all patients. Additional serologic and radiographic tests were performed when indicated.

Forty-one (54.6%) were male and 34 (45.3%) were female patients. The mean age at presentation was 39.1 ± 12.6 years. Fifty-six (74.6%) had unilateral and 19 (25.3%) had bilateral disease at presentation. A specific diagnosis was able to be established in 54 (72%) patients. The most common diagnoses were anterior uveitis associated with human leukocyte antigen B27 (14.6%) and Fuchs uveitis syndrome (14.6%). The second most common diagnosis was uveitis associated with herpes simplex virus (13.3%), followed by Behcet's uveitis (6.6%). Systemic disease associations were noted in 15 (20%) patients, and the most commonly associated systemic disease was Behcet's disease (6.6%).

Fuchs uveitis syndrome and anterior uveitis associated with human leukocyte antigen B27 were the most common form of anterior uveitis in this study. Using a systematic approach, a diagnosis was able to be established in 72% of the anterior uveitis cases.