Uveitis Specialists and Rheumatologists Select Different Therapies for Idiopathic Non-necrotizing Anterior Scleritis.

INTRODUCTION

Uveitis specialists and rheumatologists treat patients with anterior scleritis, but data from controlled trials to guide management are scarce, making differences in treatment paradigms possible.

METHODS

1044 uveitis specialists and rheumatologists were surveyed regarding therapy for a patient with anterior scleritis. Respondents were asked to select first- and second-choice therapies and then reselect therapies assuming that the costs of all options were equal and that insurance approval was ensured. Fisher's exact tests were employed to compare selections.

RESULTS

Ninety-two respondents (8.6%) completed the survey. Methotrexate was the most-selected first-choice treatment before equalization of cost/insurance factors among uveitis specialists (44.4%) and rheumatologists (78.6%) (p < 0.009). Uveitis specialists selected mycophenolate at a higher rate (27.8%) than did rheumatologists (5.3%) (p < 0.015). Cost and insurance considerations were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Uveitis specialists and rheumatologists have different preferences in the treatment of anterior scleritis. The difference is impacted more by specialty practice than by cost/insurance.