Bilateral fuchs uveitis syndrome and its association with multiple sclerosis

To investigate the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) among bilateral Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS) cases and compare their clinical characteristics with unilateral cases.

Patients with bilateral FUS (Study group) and unilateral FUS (Control group) were reviewed retrospectively. All patients in the study group underwent fluorescein angiography (FA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurological consultation. Whereas in the control group, patients with posterior segment involvement underwent FA. MRI and neurological consultation were performed on patients with neurological symptoms. The relationship between MS diagnosis and data was evaluated.

Forty eyes of 20 patients in the study group and 40 eyes of 40 patients in the control group were included. Neurological evaluations revealed that 15% (3/20) of the patients in the study group diagnosed with MS, whereas neurologic symptoms were observed in one patient in the control group; however, MRI findings did not support a diagnosis of MS. Study group showed a higher prevalence of diffuse keratic precipitates (p < 0.001, χ2 test), while iris nodule subtypes differed between groups, with Busacca nodules predominating in study group and Koeppe nodules in control group (p = 0.019, p = 0.008 respectively, χ2 test). There was no significant difference between MS and non-MS eyes with fundus and FA findings (p > 0.05, χ2 test).

The frequency of MS disease was found to be higher in bilateral FUS patients than in unilateral FUS cases. MS should be kept in mind in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with bilateral FUS, and neurological investigations should be carried out when necessary.