Clinical Studies on the Relation of HLA B-27 and Uveitis

ABSTRACT

It is well known that the incidence of anterior uveitis is about 20-40% in HLA B-27 associated joint diseases, and especially common in male between the ages of 20 and 40. However, there is no study of the epidermiology and clinical features of it in Korea. The authors studied to know the incidence and clinical feature of uveitis in HLA B-27 associated joint diseases in Korea. We reviewed the records of 543 patients with HLA B-27 associated joint diseases, visited our rheumatoid center from March 1991 to August 1996. All patients were subjected to routine laboratory examinations; i.e., blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentations rate, C reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, anti-nuclear antibody, and x-ray of the lumbosacral spine & sacro-iliac joints. 462 patientsout of 543 patients with HLA B-27 associated joint diseases had spondyloarthropathy. Anterior uveitis occurred in 32 patients (6.9%) among these 462 spondyloarthropathy patients. Clinical characteristics of the uveitis were male predominant (23/32) anterior uveitis (32/32), and unilateral (31/32).