Caracterización de las uveítis diagnosticadas en un centro de referencia del área de Barcelona / Uveitis diagnosis characterization at a referral centre in the area of Barcelona, Spain

Fundamento y objetivo: Conocer el patrón uveítico de nuestra área geográfica. Los recientes cambios demográficos, ecológicos y científicos pueden determinar cambios epidemiológicos en las uveítis, que nos hemos propuesto investigar. Pacientes y método: Corte transversal desde el 1-01-2009 al 30-06-2010. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes atendidos por uveítis en nuestro centro. Se analizaron el tipo anatómico (IUSG & SUN), la etiología (tests «a medida»), la edad, el sexo, la procedencia y la lateralidad. Los resultados entre las «primeras visitas» y los controles fueron comparados estadísticamente mediante los tests de ANOVA y ji al cuadrado. Resultados: De 416 pacientes incluídos, 150 (36%) fueron uveítis anteriores, 128 (31%) posteriores, 101 (24%) panuveítis y 37 (9%) uveítis intermedias (UI). Un 56% (236) fueron bilaterales, la edad media fue de 46 años (extremos 6-87) y un 58% fueron mujeres. El 14% (58) fueron pacientes extranjeros. Por etiología, un 20% fueron inclasificables, un 31% infecciosas, un 26% asociadas a enfermedades sistémicas y un 23% oculares específicas. Entre las causas conocidas, la herpética (11%), Toxoplasma (8%), Behçet (8%) y tuberculosis (6%) fueron las más frecuentes. Las UI afectaron significativamente por primera vez a más extranjeros (p=0,018), afectaron a pacientes más jóvenes (p=0,008) y fueron más frecuentemente crónicas (p=0,003) e inclasificables (p=0,024). Conclusión: En nuestro medio, un 80% de las uveítis pueden ser correctamente clasificadas. Las UI han incrementado su frecuencia en población extranjera, suelen ser inclasificables y crónicas. La tuberculosis (6%) y la enfermedad de Birdshot (4%) deben ser tenidas en cuenta como causa de uveítis (AU)

Background and objective: To describe the uveitis pattern in our geographic area. Recent demographic, environmental and scientific changes can determine uveitis pattern changes, which we aim to investigate. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study between 1st January 2009 and 30th June 2010 was done. All uveitis patients visited at our institution were included. Anatomical (IUSG & SUN) and aetiological patterns (by "tailored" tests), age, sex, origin and laterality were analyzed. Results from first visits and controls were compared statistically, by chi-square and ANOVA tests. Results:From 416 patients included, 150 (36%) were anterior uveitis, 128 (31%) posterior, 101 (24%) panuveitis and 37 (9%) intermediate uveitis (IU). Fifty-six percent (236) were bilateral, mean age was 46 years (6-87) and 58% were women. Fourteen percent (58) were from non-Spanish origin. By aetiology, 20% were unclassifiable, 31% infectious, 26% associated with systemic immune diseases and 23% were ocular specific syndromes. Among classified causes, herpes virus (11%), Toxoplasma (8%), Behçet (8%) and tuberculosis (6%) were the most common. IU were diagnosed more frequently at first time in foreign patients (P=.018); they affected younger patients (P=.008), were more chronic (P=.003) and unclassifiable (P=.024). Conclusion: In our area, 80% of uveitis can be correctly classified. IU have an increased frequency among foreigners, and they use to be unclassifiable and chronic. Tuberculosis (6%) and Birdshot chorio-retinopathy (4%) must be kept in mind as uveitis causes (AU)

[Uveitis diagnosis characterization at a referral centre in the area of Barcelona, Spain]. / Caracterización de las uveítis diagnosticadas en un centro de referencia del área de Barcelona.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the uveitis pattern in our geographic area. Recent demographic, environmental and scientific changes can determine uveitis pattern changes, which we aim to investigate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study between 1(st) January 2009 and 30(th) June 2010 was done. All uveitis patients visited at our institution were included. Anatomical (IUSG & SUN) and aetiological patterns (by "tailored" tests), age, sex, origin and laterality were analyzed. Results from first visits and controls were compared statistically, by chi-square and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: From 416 patients included, 150 (36%) were anterior uveitis, 128 (31%) posterior, 101 (24%) panuveitis and 37 (9%) intermediate uveitis (IU). Fifty-six percent (236) were bilateral, mean age was 46 years (6-87) and 58% were women. Fourteen percent (58) were from non-Spanish origin. By aetiology, 20% were unclassifiable, 31% infectious, 26% associated with systemic immune diseases and 23% were ocular specific syndromes. Among classified causes, herpes virus (11%), Toxoplasma (8%), Behçet (8%) and tuberculosis (6%) were the most common. IU were diagnosed more frequently at first time in foreign patients (P=.018); they affected younger patients (P=.008), were more chronic (P=.003) and unclassifiable (P=.024). CONCLUSION: In our area, 80% of uveitis can be correctly classified. IU have an increased frequency among foreigners, and they use to be unclassifiable and chronic. Tuberculosis (6%) and Birdshot chorio-retinopathy (4%) must be kept in mind as uveitis causes.