Uveitis occurring after colectomy and ileal-rectal sleeve anastomosis for ulcerative colitis

Uveitis is an extraintestinal complication of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In most cases, its course parallels that of the underlying bowel disease and improves with its therapy. Occasionally, the two processes are not synchronous. In either case, the uveitis has usually been considered to be dependent on the presence of the colon. This report describes a patient who developed uveitis shortly after colectomy and ileal-rectal sleeve anastomosis for ulcerative colitis, indicating that the continuing presence of the colonic mucosa is not necessary for development of the associated ocular inflammation.