Analysis of the frequency of uveitis in spondyloarthritis patients and associations with clinical parameters of the disease

<p></p><p>Abstract Objective: Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) is the most common extra-articular manifestation of spondyloarthritis. The aim of this study is to analyze if the presence of uveitis is associated with a diferent clinical manifestation, laboratorial, radiological and therapetiuc among spondyloarthritis patients. Methods: This was a observational retrospective study with 153 patients with spondyloarthritis attended in the period from 1997 to 2017 in Florianopolis, Brazil. It was analyzed demografical, laboratorial, clinical and therapeutic data in spondyloarthritis patients with or without uveitis. Results: 26,8% of the patients with spondyloarthritis presented uveitis. The presence of complications was rare, with cataract occurring in only four patients and glaucoma in two of them. A higher frequency of acute anterior uveitis in males (p = 0.06) was observed in patients with a family history (p = 0.19) and HLA-B27 positive (p = 0.14). Patients with spondyloarthritis and uveitis more frequently used anti-TNF (p = 0.04) and presented sacroiliitis on imaging tests (p = 0.02). There was no association between uveitis and cardiovascular (p = 0.44), cutaneous (p = 0.13) or gastrointestinal involvement (p = 0.10). Conclusion: Uveitis in patients with spondylarthritis is common, predominantly in males, and more frequently in HLA-B27 positive patients. The use of immunobiological agents such as anti-TNF is common in patients with uveitis.</p><p>