Predictive factors for remission in anterior uveitis

This retrospective study found several presenting risk factors associated with a lower incidence of remission of new-onset anterior uveitis, including diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Behcet’s disease, bilateral uveitis, presence of vitreous cells, and an initial visual acuity of 20/200 or worse.

Patients with these risk factors should be regarded as cases of chronic inflammatory disorders and given long-term immunomodulating agents.

The authors studied 990 eyes of 687 patients who had new-onset anterior uveitis within 90 days of initial presentation and a median follow-up of 160 days.

Lower incidence of remission was noted among patients presenting with a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Behcet’s disease, bilateral simultaneous uveitis, a history of cataract surgery, and vitreous cells (1+ or more).  

They conclude that patients with these potential risk factors for nonremission of uveitis should be educated and managed taking into account the higher probability of a chronic inflammatory course, which in turn may indicate the need for closer monitoring or longer-term treatment of these cases.