Abstract
Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is the most common systemic inflammatory disease associated with acute anterior uveitis (AAU). There are many works that have addressed the prevalence of AAU in patients with SpA; however, information on the prevalence of SpA and its individual symptoms in patients with AAU is limited.
Our work aimed to unify published data on this topic. According to recent studies, the prevalence of axial SpA (axSpA) in patients with AAU is around 40%, while the prevalence of peripheral forms of SpA is lower.
The most common finding is the presence of sacroiliitis, which, however, also occurs in completely asymptomatic patients with AAU. Enthesitis and possibly peripheral arthritis are also common symptoms.
At the same time, patients with AAU and associated SpA have higher levels of systemic inflammatory parameters, more frequent back pain, and worse mobility of the spine than patients without associated SpA. No difference in ocular symptomatology was found.
AAU as the first clinical symptom of SpA represents the possibility of earlier detection of this potentially disabling disease. Referral strategies for ophthalmologists will be discussed.
Due to the close connection between these two diseases, tight cooperation between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists is necessary.