Clinical analysis of 240 patients with HLA-B27 associated acute anterior uveitis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the prevalence of HLA-B27 associated acute anterior uveitis and to identify its clinical features.

METHODS

A total of 240 patients with HLA-B27 associated acute anterior uveitis, who were admitted to Zhejiang Ophthalmologic Hospital between December 2006 and October 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. The age of onset, sex, affected eyes, HLA-B27 antigen detection, recurrence, joint involvement, and surgical complications were investigated.

RESULTS

The average age of onset was 37.0±12.0 years and the ratio of male to female patients was 2.4:1. Most cases had alternate unilateral or bilateral involvement. Among all participants, 234 cases (97.5%) were HLA-B27 positive, and 124 cases (51.7%) had spondyloarthropathies (SpA), dominated by 108 cases with ankylosing spondylitis (AS,45.0%), and mostly seen in male subjects (P<0.05). Six patients were HLA-B27 negative (2.5%) and no statistical significance was noted between male and female patients (P>0.05). A total of 193 cases (80.4%) presented with complications, mainly fibrinous exudation, posterior synechia, and vitreous opacity.

CONCLUSION

HLA-B27 that is associated acute anterior uveitis with a relatively high incidence and recurrence presents with more severe clinical features than does idiopathic acute anterior uveitis, and it often accompanies systemic arthritic diseases. HLA-B27 antibody detection is associated with the diagnosis and treatment of acute anterior uveitis.