Validation of UVEDAI: An Index for Evaluating the Level of Inflammatory Activity in Uveitis

Introduction Uveitis is the inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, the uvea, and is a major cause of blindness. None of the instruments used in clinical practice are, in themselves, sufficient to evaluate the course of uveitis. Therefore, it is necessary to develop instruments enabling standardized measurement of inflammatory activity. We developed a composite disease activity index for patients with uveitis known as UVEDAI, which considers the overall activity of the eye. The objective of this study was to validate the composite index of ocular inflammation, UVEDAI. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study involving eight Spanish tertiary hospitals. Sixty-two patients aged ≥ 18 years with acute uveitis were recruited. Participants gave informed consent before participating in the study. A full ophthalmological examination was performed by two ophthalmologists to determine inflammatory activity: one used the UVEDAI score and the other used clinical judgment. The ophthalmologists did not share their findings with each other to avoid introducing bias into the analysis. Construct validity was established by means of factor analysis. The criterion validity of the index was determined using an ordinal multivariate regression model, in which the dependent variable was the degree of uveal inflammation (mild, moderate, or high/severe). Cut-off points were determined for the UVEDAI and for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Sixty-two patients were included. Total variance with the three components accounted for 80.32% of the construct validity. Each of the three components identified one type of eye involvement. The discriminatory capacity of UVEDAI was 0.867 (95% CI 0.778; 0.955 p < 0.001) for mild versus moderate–high and 0.946 (95% CI 0.879; 1.000 p < 0.001) for high versus mild–moderate. Conclusions The variables included in UVEDAI enable ocular inflammatory activity to be described with a high degree of accuracy. The index may be used to evaluate and classify this activity with considerable discriminatory power.We would like to acknowledge the support of Abbvie: this study was conducted with an unrestricted grant from Abbvie. The Spanish Society of Rheumatology is the sponser and funder of this study and the journal's Rapid Service Fee, and has participated in the study design; in the analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The corresponding author had full access to all study data and had final responsibility for the decision to submit the manuscript for publication

Visual acuity loss and development of ocular complications in white dot syndromes: A longitudinal analysis of 3 centers

Purpose: To compare the clinical prognosis among selected white dot syndromes (WDS) (birdshot chorioretinopathy (BRC), multifocal choroiditis, serpiginous choroidopathy (SC), and others) and to identify risk factors of poor visual prognosis. Methods: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study including 84 patients (143 affected eyes) diagnosed with WDS between 1982 and July 2017, followed up until loss of follow-up or December 2017, and recruited from three Uveitis Clinics (Madrid Community, Spain). Our main outcome measures were temporary or permanent moderate (corrected visual acuity in the Snellen scale < 20/50) or severe (< 20/200) vision losses, and development of new ocular complications. Incidence rates (IR) of the main outcome measures were estimated per 100 eye-years. Bivariate and multivariate Cox robust regression models analyzed the association of demographic- and clinical-related variables with vision loss. Results: SC exhibited the greatest IR of vision loss, even in the multivariate models. Previous events of vision loss, presence of choroidal neovascularization, and cataracts exhibited worse visual prognosis. Monotherapy with immunosuppressive drugs but not combine therapy was also associated with higher IR of visual loss. Regarding new ocular complications, BRC showed the highest IR of epiretinal membrane and macular edema. Conclusions: SC presents the worst visual prognosis. Some ocular manifestations can identify patients with WDS at risk of a worse clinical evolution.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social (Contrato de investigación Miguel Servet: CP12 / 03129 a LRR).2.396 JCR (2019) Q2, 23/60 Ophthalmology1.265 SJR (2019) Q1, 16/125 OphthalmologyNo data IDR 2019UE