Role of screening for uveitis in subjects with sarcoidosis
Purpose
Ocular involvement is common in sarcoidosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the role of screening for uveitis in subjects with sarcoidosis.
Methods
Retrospective case series of 88 subjects with a pre-existing diagnosis of sarcoidosis, with no previous diagnosis of uveitis, reviewed by Ophthalmology at Auckland District Health Board between January 2016 and May 2022.
Results
Sarcoid uveitis was diagnosed in 50 subjects (56.8%), and 45 required ocular treatment. In those presenting with acute eye symptoms, uveitis was observed in 94.1% (32 out of 34 subjects) while in those undergoing a screening examination, uveitis was observed in 27.8% (15 out of 54 subjects). Sarcoid uveitis was observed in 6 out of 27 subjects (22.2%) who were entirely asymptomatic at screening. On multivariate analysis, blurring of vision (OR 26.2 p<0.001), eye pain (OR 7.3 p=0.014) and respiratory disease (OR 7.1 p=0.044) were associated with increased risk of sarcoid uveitis. In the 41 subjects with no uveitis at initial examination, 3 subjects (7.3%) subsequently developed uveitis.
Conclusion
Our study highlights the importance of ophthalmic screening of all patients with systemic sarcoidosis, even in asymptomatic patients. With a high correlation of ocular symptoms in diagnosis of sarcoid uveitis, ophthalmologists should educate patients to look out for the development of symptoms of ocular inflammation, and clinicians who continue follow up for systemic sarcoidosis should remind patients to watch carefully for these symptoms to facilitate timely diagnosis and intervention.
Conflict of interest
No
Authors 1
Last name
KOH
Initials of first name(s)
LHL
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Singapore
Country
Singapore
Authors 2
Last name
Sims
Initials of first name(s)
JL
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Auckland
Country
New Zealand
Authors 3
Last name
Pepin
Initials of first name(s)
F
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Quebec
Country
Canada
Authors 4
Last name
Wilsher
Initials of first name(s)
M
Department
Respiratory Services
City
Auckland
Country
New Zealand
Authors 5
Last name
Niederer
Initials of first name(s)
RL
Department
Ophthalmology
City
Auckland
Country
New Zealand
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