Multiple sclerosis and uveitis: Clinical characteristics and prognosis

The neurological prognosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies across clinical patterns but remains unclear when associated with uveitis.

To investigate the neurological prognosis and clinical characteristics of MS-associated uveitis compared with MS without uveitis.

We conducted a retrospective case-control study including 35 patients with MS-associated uveitis and 102 matched MS controls (1:3; age, sex, MS course). Clinical and neurological data were extracted from the Lyon Cohort Uveitis and the EDMUS database. The primary endpoint was the difference in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) between baseline and last follow-up.

Patients with MS-associated uveitis were more often of North African origin than controls (48.6 % vs 20.6 %, p = 0.006; OR 3.51, 95 % CI [1.41-8.77]). Median follow-up was 19 years [14-26] in the uveitis group and 16 years [13-22] in controls. Baseline EDSS was comparable between groups (2.0 vs 2.0), as was EDSS at last follow-up (3.0 vs 3.0). However, patients aged >32 years with MS-associated uveitis had a significantly lower risk of disability progression compared with controls.

MS-associated uveitis was more frequent in patients of North African origin and often showed a sarcoidosis-like phenotype. In patients older than 32 years, it was associated with a more favorable neurological outcome.