Patterns of Uveitis at Two University-Based Referral Centres in Cape Town, South Africa. (18th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rautenbach, Wilna; Steffen, Jonel; Smit, Derrick; Lecuona, Karin; Esterhuizen, Tonya
• Is Part Of: Ocular immunology and inflammation. Volume 27:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 868
• Page End: 874
• Publication Date: 2019-08-18
• Subjects: Ocular infection -- ocular inflammation -- South Africa -- uveitis -- uveitis aetiology -- uveitis epidemiology; Eye -- Diseases -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Eye -- Inflammation -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2017.1391954
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0927-3948

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Purpose : To analyze the pattern of uveitis at two tertiary hospitals in South Africa which has a high prevalence of HIV, TB and syphilis. Methods : Data of 198 patients were obtained retrospectively between August 2014 and August 2016, including patient demographics, clinical examination, special investigations and final diagnosis. Results : Infectious uveitis was the most common aetiological category (47%), followed by idiopathic (34.8%) and non-infectious (18.2%). Syphilis was the most common identifiable cause (16.2%). Other important causes were toxoplasmosis, herpes viruses, tuberculosis and HLA-B27. HIV positive patients, who constituted 40% of the study population, were more likely to present with a posterior or panuveitis (relative risk 1.50, 95% CI 1.19–1.89) and more likely to have an infectious cause compared to HIV negative patients (relative risk 2.47, 95% CI 1.82–3.35). Conclusions : This study emphasizes the importance of HIV testing and investigations for infectious causes of uveitis, especially syphilis, in this population.