OBJECTIVE: Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) is the most common extra-articular manifestation in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the relationship between AAU and radiographic progression in axSpA remains unclear. Hence, we investigated whether the presence of AAU is associated with radiographic structural damage in patients with axSpA. METHODS: Clinical and radiographic data were obtained from 253 patients with axSpA. Radiographic progression over 2 years was assessed using the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). Progression was defined as mSASSS worsening by ≥two units. Using propensity score (PS) matching, differences between patients with and without AAU were analyzed. RESULTS: The proportion of progressors among patients with AAU was lower than that of patients without AAU (13.6% vs. 29.5%, p=0.058). The rate of increase in mSASSS and number of syndesmophytes were lower in patients with AAU than patients without AAU (0.57±1.37 vs. 1.02±1.79, p=0.085 and 0.46±1.45 vs. 0.83±1.62, p=0.158). In multivariate regression analysis, presence of AAU was independently associated with slowed radiographic progression (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.21 [0.07, 0.67], p=0.004). CONCLUSION: PS-matched axSpA patients with AAU showed significantly less radiographic progression than those without AAU.
Humans ; Propensity Score ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ocular extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) are less common than EIM of other systems, but they are clinically important because they can lead to complications that can cause catastrophic damage to the visual acuity and ocular structure. Anterior uveitis and episcleritis are the most common ocular EIM. Involvement of the orbit, posterior segment, and optic nerve can also occur. A variety of treatments are available ranging from topical steroids to systemic immunosuppressive therapies. The treatment of IBD is also essential if the activity of inflammatory bowel disease affects the ocular symptoms.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Ophthalmology ; Optic Nerve ; Orbit ; Scleritis ; Steroids ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: We report a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis following placement of an intravitreal dexamethasone implant in an immunocompetent patient diagnosed with non-infectious uveitis. CASE SUMMARY: A 60-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for recurrent anterior uveitis. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography showed dense vitritis, but no definite retinal infiltration. After laboratory examinations, the patient was diagnosed with non-infectious panuveitis. Uveitis was much improved after the patient started taking oral steroid medication. However, the patient complained of systemic side effects from the oral steroids. Medication was stopped, and an intravitreal dexamethasone implant was fitted to address worsening inflammation. Two months later, perivascular retinal infiltration developed and vitritis recurred. Viral retinitis was suspected, and the patient underwent diagnostic vitrectomy adjunctive with intravitreal ganciclovir injection. Polymerase chain reaction of vitreous fluid confirmed the diagnosis of CMV retinitis. The patient has remained inflammation-free for more than 20 months after vitrectomy, single ganciclovir injection, and 2 months of oral valganciclovir medication. CONCLUSIONS: This is a case report of CMV retinitis following placement of an intravitreal dexamethasone implant in an immunocompetent patient without any risk factors or previous history of immunosuppression. Potential risk factors for CMV retinitis should be evaluated and careful follow-up should be performed when intravitreal dexamethasone injections are unavoidable for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis.
Cytomegalovirus Retinitis ; Cytomegalovirus ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganciclovir ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Inflammation ; Middle Aged ; Panuveitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retinaldehyde ; Retinitis ; Risk Factors ; Steroids ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To report a case of macular edema and retinal vasculitis treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implantation in a Behcet's disease patient after cataract surgery. CASE SUMMARY: A 26-year-old male with Behcet's disease, without recurrence of uveitis for 3 months, underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation for a cataract in the left eye. The preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the left eye was 0.15. At day 1 after surgery, his BCVA was 0.4, and slit lamp examination of his left eye revealed a mild anterior chamber reaction. At 1 week after surgery, he presented with left vision impairment, his BCVA was 0.04, and mild inflammation was observed in both the anterior chamber and the vitreous in his left eye. Unilateral macular edema was confirmed with optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography revealed retinal vasculitis on the fovea and peripheral retina. Intravitreal dexamethasone implantation was performed in his left eye, 1 month after treatment, the macular edema and retinal vasculitis had improved, and the BCVA of his left eye was 0.8. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Behcet's disease, intravitreal dexamethasone implantation can be an effective treatment option for macular edema and retinal vasculitis after cataract surgery.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Behcet Syndrome ; Cataract ; Dexamethasone ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Macular Edema ; Male ; Phacoemulsification ; Recurrence ; Retina ; Retinal Vasculitis ; Slit Lamp ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Uveitis ; Vasculitis ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors (TNFis), which are the main treatment for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), have been reported not only to reduce the incidence of anterior uveitis (AU) but also to induce it, and these effects differ among the various types of TNFis in clinical use. The present study investigated the effect of TNFis on uveitis by analyzing the long-term clinical course of AU in AS patients treated with TNFi therapy. METHODS: Patients treated with at least one TNFi between January 2007 and July 2017 were reviewed, and 54 patients with at least one episode of AU were included in this study. The TNFis included anti-TNF-α antibodies (adalimumab, infliximab, and golimumab), and a soluble TNF receptor molecule (etanercept). The effect of prevention of AU, the likelihood of new-onset uveitis after the initiation of TNFi therapy, and the effects of drug switching and dose escalation were assessed. RESULTS: The first uveitis flare was observed before TNFi therapy in 39 patients and after TNFi therapy in 15 patients. Anti-TNF-α antibodies were more efficacious in decreasing the recurrence of AU than etanercept. Among patients in which uveitis first occurred after beginning TNFi therapy, patients on etanercept tended to first develop AU less than 1 year after starting the drug, and their AS tended to be well-controlled at the time of uveitis flares. Patients with a uveitis flare before their medication was switched did not recur afterwards, and five of eight patients showed no relapse after dose escalation. CONCLUSION: TNFis have various effects on AU. TNFis, particularly anti-TNF-α antibodies, should be considered in patients with AS and frequent AU relapse. Additionally, clinicians should consider whether AU is due to an absence of a therapeutic response of AS to TNFi treatment or to TNFi treatment itself, and appropriate treatment changes should be made accordingly.
Adalimumab ; Antibodies ; Drug Substitution ; Etanercept ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infliximab ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Recurrence ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ocular extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) are less common than EIM of other systems, but they are clinically important because they can lead to complications that can cause catastrophic damage to the visual acuity and ocular structure. Anterior uveitis and episcleritis are the most common ocular EIM. Involvement of the orbit, posterior segment, and optic nerve can also occur. A variety of treatments are available ranging from topical steroids to systemic immunosuppressive therapies. The treatment of IBD is also essential if the activity of inflammatory bowel disease affects the ocular symptoms.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Ophthalmology ; Optic Nerve ; Orbit ; Scleritis ; Steroids ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To report a case of anterior uveitis secondary to Listeria monocytogenes infection. CASE SUMMARY: A 57-year-old male presented to our clinic with ocular pain and decreased vision in the right eye for 2 days. The patient had a history of liver transplantation 2 years prior and used immunosuppressive agents. Listeria monocytogenes was identified in blood cultures 1 month before his visit. At presentation, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye was counting fingers at 20 cm and the intraocular pressure (IOP) was 50 mmHg. Conjunctival hyperemia, corneal edema, keratic precipitates, and cells in the anterior chamber were observed in the right eye. The patient was diagnosed as anterior uveitis in the right eye. Conventional uveitis treatment was initiated but clinical features did not improve and black hypopyon appeared. The possibility of anterior uveitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes infection was considered. An anterior chamber tap and culture were conducted to identify pathogens. Anterior chamber antibiotic injections and systemic antibiotic injections were performed. One week after injection, the BCVA of the right eye improved to 0.4 and the IOP decreased to 14 mmHg. One month after injection, the BCVA of the right eye improved to 1.0 and the IOP decreased to 16 mmHg. No inflammation of the anterior chamber was observed. CONCLUSIONS: When nonspecific uveitis occurs in immunosuppressed patients, cultures and appropriate antibiotics should be considered because of the possibility of infection.
Anterior Chamber ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Corneal Edema ; Endophthalmitis ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Listeria ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uveitis ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To report a case of recurrent endophthalmitis due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus hemolyticus after phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. CASE SUMMARY: A 76-year-old female visited our outpatient clinic with decreased vision 40 days after uncomplicated cataract surgery in her right eye. At the visit, anterior chamber inflammation and cloudy fluid between the posterior capsule and IOL were observed. Uveitis due to residual cortex of lens or capsular block syndrome was suspected, so YAG laser capsulotomy and subconjunctival injection of dexamethasone were performed. Two days later, hypopyon and vitreous opacity were seen. The patient underwent an emergency vitrectomy and intravitreal antibiotic injection with suspicion of bacterial endophthalmitis. The culture was negative. Twenty days after the vitrectomy, anterior chamber inflammation and vitreous opacity developed. The recurrence of endophthalmitis was suspected due to infection by bacteria in the surrounding tissue of the IOL, so the patient underwent an IOL and lens capsule removal with intravitreal antibiotic injection. At this time, the culture revealed methicillin resistant staphylococcus hemolyticus. Systemic and topical vancomycin was then administered, resulting in decreased inflammation. Twenty days after the IOL removal, decreased vision, anterior chamber inflammation, and vitreous opacity developed. Endophthalmitis was decreased by intravitreal antibiotic injection and topical antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus hemolyticus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic recurrent endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.
Aged ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Anterior Chamber ; Bacteria ; Cataract ; Dexamethasone ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergencies ; Endophthalmitis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin ; Phacoemulsification ; Recurrence ; Staphylococcus ; Uveitis ; Vancomycin ; Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: We report an unusual case of presumptive diagnosis of herpes-induced anterior uveitis with acute hypopyon after trauma. CASE SUMMARY: A 82-year-old male was diagnosed with herpes keratitis due to dendritic keratitis in the left eye, and the lesion disappeared after antiviral treatment. However, 1 year later, the patient visited again with visual loss, pain, and tearing of the left eye after trauma. At the examination, best-corrected visual acuity was counting fingers and the intraocular pressure was 27 mmHg in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed corneal epithelial erosion, moderate corneal edema, and prominent inflammation with 2 mm high hypopyon in the anterior chamber. We thought that bacterial endophthalmitis had rapidly progressed after trauma, so we performed bacterial cultures and an intravitreal antibiotics injection. Considering the clinical manifestations of lesions and herpes keratitis in the past, we could not exclude herpes virus infection. Cultures were negative and the symptoms improved, so the antiviral treatment was gradually reduced and stopped at 2 months. However, recurrence was observed on day 5 after stopping antiviral therapy. We therefore assumed that recurrent herpes virus caused anterior uveitis, and then, antiviral and steroid therapy was resumed. The patient subsequently showed improvement in his symptoms and recovered his visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: When acute hypopyon is observed in the anterior chamber after trauma, not only bacterial iritis and endophthalmitis but also viral-induced anterior uveitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anterior Chamber ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Corneal Edema ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endophthalmitis ; Fingers ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iritis ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Dendritic ; Male ; Recurrence ; Simplexvirus ; Tears ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To report a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease with chronic recurrence, which was treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. CASE SUMMARY: A 39-year-old female presented with decreased visual acuities in both eyes accompanied by headaches and tinnitus the previous week. On fundus examination and optical coherence tomography, multiple serous retinal detachments with subretinal septa were observed in both eyes, and she was diagnosed with VKH disease. After undergoing high dose intravenous steroid therapy at another hospital, she was treated with oral prednisolone and immunosuppressant drugs. However, she showed frequent recurrences, and also complained of side effects from prolonged systemic steroids. We then performed intravitreal injections of dexamethasone implants in both eyes at 3-week intervals. One month following the injections, the inflammations in the anterior chamber and vitreous opacities were improved. Until the last visit at 6 months after the injection, there was no significant recurrence of inflammation, although oral prednisolone had been tapered. CONCLUSIONS: In VKH disease, intravitreal dexamethasone implantation may be an effective treatment option if chronic recurrence occurs, despite systemic steroid and immunosuppressant therapy or sustained treatment being difficult to maintain because of side effects.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intravitreal Injections ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Retinal Detachment ; Steroids ; Tinnitus ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Uveitis ; Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome ; Visual Acuity