Characteristics and complications of uveitis in patients referred to rheumatology: a single-center study

To evaluate the clinical, demographic, and complication data of patients with new-onset uveitis at the ophthalmology and rheumatology departments of a single center.

This retrospective study included patients newly diagnosed with uveitis who were referred to the rheumatology department for etiological evaluation between August 2021 and August 2024. Patients with a history of rheumatologic diseases associated with uveitis were not included in the study.

A total of 91 patients (female: n = 59, 65%) who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The mean age at uveitis diagnosis was 45.7 ± 14.8 years. The most common form of uveitis was anterior uveitis (81.3%), followed by intermediate uveitis (14.3%) and panuveitis (4.4%). About one-third of the patients had a rheumatologic etiology (n = 29, 31.9%), with spondyloarthritis being the most common. Approximately one in five patients with newly diagnosed uveitis of rheumatologic etiology developed ocular complications (n = 5, 17.2%), 80% (n = 4) of whom had anterior uveitis and 20% (n = 1) of whom had panuveitis. Macular edema was the most common ocular complication.

Anterior uveitis is generally regarded as more benign, but it still carries a risk of complications. Timely identification and management of systemic autoimmune diseases associated with uveitis may provide a valuable opportunity to prevent ocular complications and visual impairment.