Frequency of Lung Disease in Patients Diagnosed with Uveitis

Abstract

Objective: To identify the etiologic and demographic features of uveitis cases admitted to the Ankara Ataturk Education and Research Hospital in Turkey and to determine the frequency of lung disease in these cases. Materials and Methods: The records of 140 uveitis cases followed up in our hospital were retrospectively examined. The patients underwent systemic and complete ophthalmologic examinations. Laboratory and radiological examinations were performed for the etiology of uveitis. The age and sex of the patients, anatomic localization, and the etiology of uveitis were evaluated. Results: The mean age +/- standard deviation of 140 patients included in the study was 39.6 +/- 14.9 years. The proportion of female/male was 61 (43.6%)/79 (56.4%). The cases were put into 4 groups according to their anatomical localizations: anterior uveitis (48.6%; n = 68), posterior uveitis (28.6%; n = 40), panuveitis (31.1%; n = 31), and intermediate uveitis (0.7%; n = 1). Idiopathic uveitis accounted for the majority of all cases (n = 69, 49.3%). Behcet's disease was the second most common diagnosis (n = 41, 29.3%), followed by uveitis associated with sarcoidosis (n = 8, 5.7%). Anterior uveitis was the most common anatomical localization (n = 68, 48.6%) and posterior uveitis followed it (n = 40, 28.6%). Conclusion: The etiologic distribution of uveitis varies with the geographical location. The most frequently seen form of uveitis in our clinic is idiopathic. Among diseases leading to uveitis and primarily affecting the lung, Behcet's disease comes first and it is followed by sarcoidosis.