Insights into uveitis in association with spondyloarthritis from a large patient survey

Uveitis is reported to be the most common extra-articular feature in spondyloarthritis (SpA).

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between uveitis and SpA in a cohort identified from a survey.

Eight hundred sixty-three respondents completed a survey conducted by the Spondylitis Association of America. Data on baseline demographics, quality of life, medication use, and joint involvement were compared in SpA patients with and without uveitis. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify characteristics associated with the presence of uveitis.

Of the 863 respondents, 168 (19.5%) reported a diagnosis of uveitis. Baseline demographics including sex, age, and ethnicity were similar between the uveitis and no-uveitis groups. The presence of uveitis had a significant positive association with the use of the biologic drug infliximab (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 1.66, P = 0.044), "lower jaw" involvement (ORadj = 1.60, P = 0.015), heel involvement (ORadj = 1.51, P = 0.023), and a diagnosis of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (ORadj = 1.92, P = 0.005). It had a significant negative association with the use of the biologic drug etanercept (ORadj = 0.49, P = 0.011) or a coexisting diagnosis of diabetes (ORadj = 0.02, P = 0.020).

The relationship of uveitis to medication presumably reflects the choice of a specific tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in the setting of a history of uveitis. One prior study has also correlated heel pain and uveitis, thus supporting the validity of the association and suggesting potentially a common pathogenesis. Because diabetes has been proposed as a risk factor for uveitis, the negative association is surprising and may distinguish the pathogenesis of uveitis in association with SpA from other forms of uveitis.