Acute Anterior Uveitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in northeast of Iran

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorder with variable clinical manifestations. Acute anterior uveitis is the most common extra-articular manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis. This study assessed the prevalence of uveitis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Mashhad, Iran. In this retrospective study, the medical records of patients diagnosed with AS between January 1st, 2007 and December 31st, 2017 in a rheumatology clinic in Mashhad, Iran were reviewed. Diagnoses of ankylosing spondylitis were made based on the modified New York criteria. The records of 317 patients were reviewed (81.4% male, 18.6% female, with a male to female ratio of 4.3:1). The mean age at onset of AS was 27.01±8.63 years (minimum 12 years, maximum 55 years). The mean age at diagnosis of AS was 30.72±9.44 years. The mean age at diagnosis of uveitis was 32.40±10.49 years. The mean follow-up period of patients was 6.19±5.51 years. HLA-B27 was positive in 77% of patients. About 14% of patients had uveitis in the mean follow-up period of 6.19±5.51 years. The frequency of uveitis in patients with AS is lower in the study region than in most other regions. Future studies with a prospetive design, randomized patient selection, and lifelong follow up can provide a more accurate description of acute anterior uveitis in patients with AS.