2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
9 Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation
Chapter 5: Diagnostic Considerations in Uveitis
Review of the Patient’s Health and Other Associated Factors
A comprehensive history and review of systems help to narrow the differential diagnosis and guide ancillary testing and treatment options. The patient’s personal characteristics, medical history, and social history can help in the classification and identification of uveitis (Table 5-10). Immunocompromise, sexual practices, use of intravenous drugs, hyperalimentation, and certain occupations are just some of the risk factors that can direct the investigation. In this regard, a diagnostic survey for uveitis as shown in the appendix can be very helpful.
Table 5–10 Patient Factors in Diagnosis of Uveitis
Although ocular inflammation can be an isolated process involving only the eye, it can also be associated with a systemic condition. However, uveitis frequently does not correlate with inflammatory activity elsewhere in the body and may precede the development of inflammation at other body sites.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 9 - Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.