Forms of anterior uveitis

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Mike Bartolatz
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Forms of anterior uveitis

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

This information is an excert from an article From the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis foundation (http://www.uveitis.org) and is used with the permission of C Stephen Foster MD.


Phacogenic Uveitis
(Lens- induced Uveitis)


Etiology

Unknown; possibly an autoimmune disorder

Tolerance for lens tissue is lost after trauma to the lens capsule, with consequent development of auto-antibodies and a possible granulomatous reaction with autoreactive T-cells

Triggering factors:

Perforating injury

Retained lens material after cataract extraction

Microtrauma of the capsule in mature cataract or after glaucoma surgery

Associated systemic conditions – none

Clinical Features

Anterior Uveitis;

Granulomatous or non-granulomatous, (severity)

Can reportedly develop between 24 hours and 40 years after the causative event

A massive # of KPs, small and white in early stage, coalescing into large "Mutton fat" KPs

A thick A.C. exudate, opaque lens and rapid development of PS, abundant protein thick flare, cells and in some cases particulate lens material

The AC cells are characterized by being giant macrophages, full of phagocytosed lens material

Hypopyon or pseudohypopyon formation, made of lens material



Figure 1. Multinucleated giant cell surrounded by epithelioid cells on the anterior lens surface.

Differential Diagnosis

I- Sympathetic ophthalmia

II- Other causes of Anterior uveitis

III- Post-operative endophthalmitis, caused by Propionibacterium acnes; demonstration of the pathogen is helpful

Phacogenic Uveitis Sympathetic Ophthalmia
initially unilateral bilateral
anterior anterior and posterior
usually but not always penetrating trauma always penetrating trauma
usually lens fragments in AC no lens fragments in AC and few cells in AC
no relapses after lens removal Relapses characteristic
antigen: lens protein antigen:retinal photoreceptor protein


Propionibacterium Acnes Endophthalmitis

Chronic postoperative endophthalmitis

usually 3 months or more after extracapsular extraction

Granulomatous ( mutton fat KPs ), small hypopyon, mild vitritis, plaques on posterior capsule characteristic and may be residual lens material in capsular bag

Propionibacterium Acnes requires up to 2 weeks of incubation, samples of vitreous and post capsule should be obtained

Other causes of chronic post-operative endophthalmitis are S. Epidermidis ( between 2-6 weeks ) and fungal ( usually Candida 1-3 months )

In postop endophthalmitis with mild anterior uveitis and unclear etiology, treatment initially is frequent topical steroid; If no improvement, then AC and vitreous paracentesis, Gram and Giemsa stains, fungal, aerobic and anaerobic cultures.

Other causes of anterior uveitis

1- HLA - B27 associated uveitis

2- JRA - associated iritis

3- Fuchs` heterochromic iridocyclitis

4- Herpetic iridocyclitis

5- Syphilis

6- Tuberculosis

7- Intraocular lens induced uveitis ( Uveitis Glaucoma Hyphema syndrome )

8- Posner - Schlossman syndrome

9- Traumatic iridocyclitis

10- Idiopathic anterior uveitis

Characteristic features of each of these causes of anterior uveitis

1- HLA - B27 associated uveitis

About 50% of patients with anterior uveitis

more than half of these will have some type of spondyloarthropathy such as AS, Reiters and psoriatic arthropathy. Inflammatory bowel diseese may also be associated

more commonly males in the second or third decade

severe nongranulomatous often with a fibrinous exudate, hypopyon and posterior synechiae

recurrences more common but the initial episode is the most severe

2- JRA - associated iritis

most common disorder associated with uveitis in the pediatric age group

more common in the pauciarticular( less than 5 joints)

20 - 40% of the early onset, pauciarticular develop ch iridocyclitis and up to 60% of those are ANA positive ( 2 substrates )

10 - 20 % of late onset pauciarticular develop ch iridocyclitis and 75% of those are HLA - B27 +ve. RF is negative in both groups

bilateral nongranulomatous ch anterior uveitis associated with white quiet eye esp in early onset

Band shaped keratopathy and cataract

3 - Fuchs` heterochromic iridocyclitis

2 - 5% of all cases of anterior uveitis and may represent an autoimmune reaction against iris pigment

usually ,but not always, in the lighter colored eye ; 7 - 15% have bilateral disease without heterochromia. Paradoxical cases with inflammation in the darker colored eyes occur.

Patients usually present with complications (cataract and glaucoma) because typical symptoms of ant uveitis are usually absent

stellate KPs throughout the cornea and iris stromal atrophy

often unresponsive to steroid; try intensive topical for one week but taper if no response

4 - Herpetic iridocyclitis

stromal or epithelial corneal involvement usually, but not always, precedes

it can be acute, recurrent or chronic

Iris atrophy with transillumination defects charecteristic

one of the causes of sclerouveitis

initially nongranulomatous but may become granulomatous with chronicity

5 - Syphilitic iridocyclitis

secondary stage and late latent acquired syphilis

granulomatous or nongranulomatous

dilated capillary loops within the iris, called roseata, appear as red nodules

posterior segment involvement

Treatable disease

FTA-ABS or MHA-TP to confirm

Diagnosis

6 - Tuberculous iridocyclitis

the incidence is again rising ( AIDS )

granulomatous inflammation

PPD skin test and CXR in suspected cases

Syphilis and sarcoidosis should be ruled out

7 - Intraocular lens induced iridocyclitis

more common with AC lenses but can occur with PC lenses

persistent postop inflammation

rule out infection and remnants of cortical material; Aqueous and vitreous aspirates

removal of the intraocular lens is often needed

8 - Posner - Schlossman Syndrome

unilateral elevation of pressure ( up to 40 - 60 mm Hg ) and anterior uveitis

mild corneal edema and mild mydriasis

fine KPs and mild cellular reaction in AC

benign, and self-limiting course

during the attack topical beta blocker or mild miotic, topical steroids 2 - 4 times daily

Treatment of Phacogenic Uveitis

Good response to treatment with a favorable

Prognosis

Topical mydriatic and steriod drops and if necessary systemic NSAID, eg. ASA or Indomethacin

The cause should be removed: as much of the lens material as possible should be removed from the eye

If it follows extra-capsular extraction, treatment should continue until all lens material is absorbed; lens material that is not absorbed must be removed surgically
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