[Clinical patterns of uveitis in an Iranian tertiary eye care center]

ABSTRACT

To analyze the clinical patterns and etiologic diagnosis of uveitis in Isfahan. The records of 329 patients with uveitis referred to Farabi tertiary eye care center in Isfahan during 1999-2002 were classified and analyzed. Mean age of onset of uveitis was 33.2 years. The female to male ratio was 1.191. Anterior uveitis was the most common type [29.2%] followed by panuveitis [26.7%], posterior uveitis [23.7%], and intermediate uveitis [20.4]. The most prevalent causes were idiopathic and Fuch's heterochromia iridiocyclitis [FHI] in anterior uveitis, toxoplasmosis in posterior uveitis, idiopathic in intermediate uveitis; and Behcet's disease and idiopathic in panuveitis. Overall, 35.5% were idiopathic, 12.1% had specific ocular disease, and 52.3% had systemic disease associations. The most common known etiologies were toxoplasmosis [22.2%], Behcet's disease [18.6%], and FHI [9.4%]. Chronic [67.2%], nongranulomatous [90.9%], and noninfectious uveitis [73.3%] were the most frequent types. The most frequent cause under 16 years of age was pars planitis. Significant differences were seen in the clinical and etiologic pattern of uveitis in Isfahan; for example the higher frequency of uveitis due to toxoplasmosis, Behcet's disease and FHI. Environmental, genetic, and geographical factors may contribute to this difference