Clinical course and signs in patients with uveitis associated with ankylosing spondylitis

Aim: To evaluate clinical course and signs in patients withuveitis associated ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods: In this retrospective study we evaluated thepatients who were diagnosed as uveitis related to AS andfollowed up at the Ophthalmology Department of NecmettinErbakan University Hospital between May 2009 andJune 2012. Demographical features and clinical courseswere assessed.Results: Seventeen eyes of 13 patients were includedin the study. Nine patients (69.2%) were male and four(30.8%) were female. The mean age at presentation was38.54±9.61 years (range 28-63). Bilateral involvementwas observed in four (30.8%) patients. The mean followuptime was 17.46±11.86 months (range 3-36). The meannumber of attacks was 1.15±0.37 (range 1-2). Posteriorsegment manifestation accompanied anterior uveitis inthree eyes (17.6%). Posterior synechia developed in one(7.7%) and cataract in one patient (7.7%), cystoid macularedema in two patients (15.4%), and epiretinal membranein one patient (%7.7). The mean final visual acuitywas 0.975±0.07 (range 0.2-1.0).Conclusion: The prognosis of anterior uveitis associatedwith AS is good if the treatment is administered at theappropriate time. However, the posterior segment complicationsmay develop in these patients, treatment andfollow-up should be done in co-operation with the departmentof rheumatology.Key words: Ankylosing spondylitis, uveitis, rheumatology,clinical cours