Symptomatic Uveitis and Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and uveitis are associated with immune dysregulation.

We studied 658 consecutive outpatients with a diagnosis of MS. Records were reviewed to find those with diagnoses of Uveitis. Characteristics of their diseases were studied.

15 patients (2.28%) had the diagnosis of uveitis, compared to a normal population prevalence of 0.13% (chi-square 225.441; p < 0.001). Uveitis was most frequently anterior and intermediate (5 and 4 cases, respectively, with 2 additional cases showing a combination of the two in equal proportion) followed by panuveitis (3 cases) and posterior uveitis (1 case). The diagnosis of MS was more likely to precede that of uveitis. Visual acuity was variably affected.

MS and uveitis are associated with each other more frequently than by chance. Uveitis should be considered when assessing a MS patient with visual loss, as treatment may improve visual function.

KEYWORDS:

• Uveitis
• multiple sclerosis