Clinical and Epidemiological Profiles of Retinal Vasculitis in Northern Taiwan

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To investigate the epidemiological and clinical profiles in retinal vasculitis in an Asian cohort.

Methods

A 5-year retrospective study of 487 uveitis patients in a tertiary referral center at northern Taiwan.

Results

Overall, 18.5% of the cases were associated with retinal vasculitis (RV). Sarcoidosis and cytomegalovirus retinitis were two leading diagnoses. Cases with RV were younger (mean: 39.7 years), less unilateral (50%), and had more chorioretinal involvement (95.5%). Definite diagnosis was reached in 86.7% of RV cases, of which 38.5% had infectious uveitis. While sole arteritis was presented in 8.9% of cases, 63.3% showed phlebitis, and 27.8% involved both. Three distinctive patterns were associated with a higher likelihood of infection: nodular sheathing, continuous perivascular sheathing (OR 4.79), and continuous fluorescein leakage (OR 4.11).

Conclusion

The presence of RV, especially arteritis, is highly suggestive of identifiable etiology. Distinctive clinical patterns help differentiation of infectious versus noninfectious causes.

KEYWORDS:

• Retinal vasculitis
• uveitis
• retina
• arteritis
• phlebitis
• occlusive
• infectious
• noninfectious
• intraocular inflammation

Acknowledgments

The authors have no commercial or proprietary interests in any product or instrument mentioned in the manuscript. This manuscript was edited by Wallace Academic Editing.

Declaration of Interest

This study received no specific funding from any organization. The authors report no conflicts of interest.