[Uveitis diagnosis characterization at a referral centre in the area of Barcelona, Spain].

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

To describe the uveitis pattern in our geographic area. Recent demographic, environmental and scientific changes can determine uveitis pattern changes, which we aim to investigate.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A cross-sectional study between 1(st) January 2009 and 30(th) June 2010 was done. All uveitis patients visited at our institution were included. Anatomical (IUSG & SUN) and aetiological patterns (by "tailored" tests), age, sex, origin and laterality were analyzed. Results from first visits and controls were compared statistically, by chi-square and ANOVA tests.

RESULTS

From 416 patients included, 150 (36%) were anterior uveitis, 128 (31%) posterior, 101 (24%) panuveitis and 37 (9%) intermediate uveitis (IU). Fifty-six percent (236) were bilateral, mean age was 46 years (6-87) and 58% were women. Fourteen percent (58) were from non-Spanish origin. By aetiology, 20% were unclassifiable, 31% infectious, 26% associated with systemic immune diseases and 23% were ocular specific syndromes. Among classified causes, herpes virus (11%), Toxoplasma (8%), Behçet (8%) and tuberculosis (6%) were the most common. IU were diagnosed more frequently at first time in foreign patients (P=.018); they affected younger patients (P=.008), were more chronic (P=.003) and unclassifiable (P=.024).

CONCLUSION

In our area, 80% of uveitis can be correctly classified. IU have an increased frequency among foreigners, and they use to be unclassifiable and chronic. Tuberculosis (6%) and Birdshot chorio-retinopathy (4%) must be kept in mind as uveitis causes.