Macular Changes Correlate with the Degree of Acute Anterior Uveitis in Patients with Spondyloarthropathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between anterior chamber inflammation and the central foveal thickness of the retina in a homogenous uveitic group (seronegative spondyloarthropathy (subgroup: ankylosing spondylitis)) of patients with the first acute anterior unilateral uveitic attack.

METHODS

Central foveal thickness (FT) and perifoveal retinal thickness were recorded by optical coherence tomography (Optovue RTVue-100), and the difference between the two eyes was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed by Mathworks Matlab software. Anterior chamber inflammation was measured by laser flare photometry (Kowa FM-600).

RESULTS

A statistically significant (p < .05) increase was found in retinal thickness in all OCT subfields in acute anterior uveitic eyes compared to healthy fellow eyes. There was a linear correlation between the degree of inflammation (laser flare photometry values) and central foveal thickness (r = .900, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

We could demonstrate close correlation between macular thickness and inflammation in anterior uveitic patients with spondyloarthropathy.