Risk Factors Associated With Increased Uveitis Incidence in AS

Data from an observational study found that hip-joint lesions, number of involved peripheral arthritic joints, antistreptolysin O (ASO),  and circulating immune complex (CIC) levels were associated with increased risk for developing uveitis in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).  Researchers further found that disease duration, human leukocyte antigen(HLA-B27), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were not associated with future uveitis development.

The prevalence and characteristics of uveitis in patients with AS have been previously studied but its associated risk factors are not as clear. Researchers from China conducted a study (n=390) to analyze the risk factors of uveitis in patients with AS. Patients who met the modified New York criteria were enrolled from January to December 2015. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed; data such as disease duration, HLA-B27, and the number of peripheral arthritis were collected as well. 

Of the total patients with AS, 38 (9.7%) experienced one or more episodes of uveitis. Patients with uveitis had a higher incidence rate for hip-joint lesion vs. the non-uveitis group (44.7% vs. 22.2%; P <.01). 

Peripheral arthritis prevalence was also greater for the uveitis group vs. the non-uveitis group (2.18 vs 0.55; P <.001). Significantly higher levels of ASO and CIC were seen in patients with uveitis (P <.05 and P <.0001, respectively) vs patients without uveitis. 

However, study authors found no significant differences in disease duration, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) between the two groups. 

ASO and peripheral arthritis (odds ratio [OR] 12.2 and OR 4.1; P <.01 for both) were significantly associated with uveitis in AS according to a binary logistic regression analysis. No significant differences between those with AS who developed uveitis and those who did not was found with disease duration, HLA-B27, ESR, and CRP.

Findings from this study suggest that the possibility of uveitis occurrence in patients with AS should not be ignored if they also have these risk factors.

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Reference

Sun L, Wu R, Xue Q, Wang F, Lu P. Risk factors of uveitis in ankylosing spondylitis: An observational study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(28):e4233.

This article originally appeared on MPR