Spectrum of Uveitis in A German Tertiary Center: Review of 474 Consecutive Patients

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the spectrum of uveitis at a German tertiary center.

Patients and methods: A total of 474 consecutive patients with uveitis were classified according to the primary anatomic site of inflammation, examined for laterality of disease, and screened for etiologies.

Results: Out of the total, 253 patients (53%) had anterior uveitis, 90 patients (19%) had intermediate uveitis, 100 patients (21%) had posterior uveitis, and 31 patients (7%) had panuveitis. Fifty-six percent of the patients had bilateral involvement, predominantly in intermediate uveitis (ratio 4:1) and panuveitis (ratio 3.4:1). Regarding the etiology of all uveitis cases we found 17% infectious, 23% specific clinical entities, 20% associated with systemic disease (most commonly sarcoidosis with 11%), and 41% idiopathic uveitis.

Conclusions: Anterior uveitis was the most common anatomic site of intraocular inflammation. Using a tailored approach, screening for systemic etiologies is recommended, since 20% of all patients had associated systemic diseases.

• Clinical characteristics
• epidemiology
• etiology
• uveitis

Declaration of interest

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

Financial support was provided by the German Research Foundation (HE 6743/2-1 to LMH; Priority Research Project SFB 643: B10, CU 47/6-1, CU 47/4-1 to CC; GR 2647/4-1 to RSG) and GEROK-Programme University Hospital of Cologne (to LMH).