Characterizing autoimmune uveitis to systemic diseases: a retrospective study from a Syrian tertiary reference center

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Immunology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Autoimmune uveitis (AU) is a significant cause of vision loss, often linked to systemic diseases.
• Understanding AU pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment response, especially for systemic disease-associated AU (SDA-AU), remains limited.
• SDA-AU disproportionately affects younger individuals and is associated with systemic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with SDA-AU.
• To evaluate the efficacy of tailored treatments for SDA-AU over a 24-month period.
• To inform future research, therapeutic strategies, and improve patient outcomes in SDA-AU.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of 261 patients with SDA-AU (Damascus, Syria, 2018-2022).
• Diagnoses confirmed using Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) criteria.
• Evaluated treatment efficacy, ophthalmic examinations, laboratory tests, and radiographic assessments at 24 months.

Main Results:

• The study analyzed 87 patients with SDA-AU; 64.36% were women, with a mean age of 43.8 years.
• Common symptoms included painful red eye (52.87%); 33.33% experienced complications like cataracts and glaucoma.
• At 24 months, 48.27% achieved complete remission, 37.93% improved, and 13.79% worsened.

Conclusions:

• AU presentation can precede systemic disease diagnosis, highlighting the importance of early uveitis detection.
• A comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach is crucial for managing SDA-AU.
• Effective management of SDA-AU can lead to improved patient prognosis and quality of life.