Ophthalmic Manifestations in Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases at a Referral Hospital of Yaounde, Cameroon

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the profile of ophthalmic manifestations in chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (CIRD).

Methods: Observational study at the Yaounde Central Hospital and Innel Medical Centre (2004 to 2012).

Results: The study population (n = 36) consisted of 14 men and 22 women with average age of 47.9 ± 17.2 years. Cases of CIRD were rheumatoid arthritis (n = 16), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 8), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 8), mixed connective tissue disease (n = 2), scleroderma (n = 1), and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n = 1). Ophthalmic manifestations found in 22 (61.1%) patients were dry eye syndrome (n = 7), cataract (n = 6), anterior uveitis (n = 6), glaucoma (n = 4), and suspected maculopathy (n = 1). No association was found between steroids used and supcapsular cataract (p = 0.06) or glaucoma (p = 0.06).

Conclusion: Ocular manifestations occurred in 61.1% of CIRD. Dry eye syndrome and anterior uveitis were commonly observed.

Keywords:

• Africa
• anterior uveitis
• cataract
• chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease
• corticoid
• dry eye syndrome
• glaucoma
• suspected maculopathy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors thank Dr. Feuning Djoko Steve for his contribution to data collection.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

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