[Ankylosing spondylitis with acute anterior uveitis--correlation between HLA-B27 and clinical and radiologic...

Six cases of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) complicated with acute anterior uveitis (AAU) were reviewed. Clinical and radiologic findings of these cases were correlated with HLA-B27. All the patients were men; four of them were HLA-B27 positive, and two were B27 negative. The average age of onset was younger in B27+ patients than in B27- patients. Ophthalmologic study showed no definite difference in inflammatory change of AAU between B27+ patients and B27- patients. AAU in B27+ patients was completely cured in three months. A history of low back pain was more apparent in B27+ than in B27- patients. Three out of four B27+ patients showed complete bony ankylosis in sacroiliac joints, whereas no ankylosis was seen in B27- patients. CT scan was useful to demonstrate sacroilitis in cases with equivocal radiologic findings. Spondylitic changes were more extensive in B27+ than in B27- patients. The results support the concept that HLA-B27+ AS and B27- AS are different entities with similar phenotypic expression, and HLA-B27 is an arthritogenic gene in the Japanese population as well.