‘Can you touch your toes?’ spondyloarthropathies and acute anterior uveitis for primary eyecare practitioners

ABSTRACT

The rheumatological diseases known as spondyloarthropathies (SpAs) are reviewed with respect to the current classifications of SpAs and from the perspective of ophthalmic practitioners. The focus is on the most common spondyloarthropathy, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and the key symptoms, such as inflammatory back pain. The association with HLA-B27 and acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and the major clinical considerations for primary eye care practitioners are reviewed. An atypical case study illustrates difficulties in the detection and diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis.

KEYWORDS:

• Spondyloarthropathy
• Acute anterior uveitis
• Ankylosing spondylitis

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Dr John Findeisen MBBS FRACP, Department of Rheumatology, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Melbourne in the preparation of this review.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).