Clinical Patterns of Sarcoidosis Patients with and without Uveitis: Insights from a Dutch Sarcoidosis Centre

Uveitis is a common ocular manifestation in individuals with sarcoidosis, a multisystem inflammatory disorder. This study aimed to explore clinical and genetic factors associated with the presence or absence of uveitis in sarcoidosis patients.

Total 625 Dutch sarcoidosis patients were included. Among these, 170 underwent ophthalmic examination, and 61 were diagnosed with uveitis. Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, race, biopsy status, chest radiography findings, TNF-α inhibitor treatment, and uveitis classification were collected retrospectively from medical records. Genetic data was available for HLA haplotypes, TNF-α G-308A, and BTNL2 G16071A polymorphisms.

The majority of the patients presented with bilateral uveitis (80.3%). The proportion of women was higher in the uveitis group compared to the non-uveitis group (67.2% and 47.7%; p = 0.014). Pulmonary involvement (chest radiographic stage II-III) was significantly lower in patients with uveitis (36.1% versus 64.2%; p < 0.001). Patients with uveitis were more often treated with TNF-α inhibitors (67.2% versus 29.4%; p < 0.001) and the outcome was better compared with the non-uveitis group, 92% vs 68%, responders (p < 0.012). Uveitis patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors (either adalimumab or infliximab) were more likely to suffer from intermediate or posterior uveitis than anterior uveitis. Genetic analysis identified a significant association between the BTNL2 G16071A GG genotype and uveitis (p = 0.012).

This study highlights distinctive demographic, clinical and genetic features associated with uveitis in sarcoidosis patients. Ocular sarcoidosis was more prevalent in women. Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings for treatment strategies and prognostic assessments.