Ocular Manifestations of Antiphospholipid Syndrome in Jordan

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of various ocular manifestations in diagnosed cases of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in Jordan. It will also find the association of these manifestations with primary and secondary APS.

It was a retrospective cross-sectional study to analyze the ocular manifestations of APS in Jordan. Data of 90 cases were obtained from public hospitals from January 2018 to January 2021. There should have been at least two positive tests with a minimum of 12-week gap between them. The electronic data regarding Schirmer tests, examination of visual acuity (Snellen acuity), neuro-ophthalmic manifestations, dilated fundus examination for posterior eye segment manifestations, and slit-lamp examination for anterior eye segment were also recorded and analyzed. Using SPSS version 25, the frequency and percentages of the categorical data were computed. Pearson's Chi-square test was conducted to find the associations.

Among 90 APS cases, 52 (58%) patients had primary APS and 38 (42%) had secondary APS. At the same time, systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed in 31 (34%) patients. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes), decreased vision, and retinal vasculitis were the most common manifestations observed.

The high prevalence of ocular manifestations warrants ophthalmologists to look for APS, as ocular manifestations could be the initial symptoms and/or signs of APS.