In a recent study published in Ophthalmology, researchers analyzed 2763 eyes of 2092 patients with acute anterior uveitis in New Zealand from 2008 to 2021.

They recorded the time from the onset of inflammation in the front part of the eye to the recurrence of inflammation. Recurrent anterior uveitis was defined as repeated episodes of inflammation separated by at least 3 months of no symptoms without treatment. This study evaluated the risk of recurrence and identified factors that increase the likelihood of it happening again.

The researchers found that about half of the patients experienced recurrence in the same eye, and a quarter had recurrence in the other. Recurrences in the same eye were linked to viral causes.

After a median follow-up of 8.9 years, 45.5% of patients had recurrences in the same eye, and 27.3% had recurrences in the opposite eye. In patients with viral uveitis, the 10-year recurrence rate was 44.9% in the same eye but only 2% in the opposite eye.

The study also found that human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27), or inflammatory arthritis-associated uveitis, was a common risk factor for recurrences in both eyes.

These findings should help clinicians better understand the disease and appropriately counsel patients at higher risk of recurrence.

(Source:https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/high-recurrence-acute-uveitis-linked-viral-causes-2024a1000boh)