Review for Disease of the Year: Epidemiology of HLA-B27 Associated Ocular Disorders

ABSTRACT

Acute anterior uveitis is generally recognized as the most common form of uveitis. An association with HLA-B27 is seen in approximately half of cases of acute anterior uveitis. The prevalence of HLA-B27 varies widely between ethnic populations, with an approximate 8–10% prevalence in non-Hispanic whites and lower prevalence in Mexican- (4%) and African- (2–4%) Americans. A group of systemic inflammatory diseases, the spondyloarthropathies, similarly demonstrates a strong association with HLA-B27. The strength of association varies, depending on the specific spondyloarthropathy, with the strongest association found in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The majority of patients with HLA-B27 associated uveitis will have an underlying spondyloarthropathy. Suspicion for HLA-B27 associated uveitis should prompt a careful clinical history to assess for features of a spondyloarthropathy as the characteristics of any associated uveitis may vary.

Keywords:

• Acute anterior uveitis
• epidemiology
• HLA-B27
• iritis
• spondyloarthropathy

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

FUNDING

Supported in part by an institutional grant from Research to Prevent Blindness and NIH Grant P30 EY010572. EBS is additionally supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Additional information

Funding

Supported in part by an institutional grant from Research to Prevent Blindness and NIH Grant P30 EY010572. EBS is additionally supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs.