Clinical and epidemiological features of visual organ damage in systemic connective tissue diseases

To this date, uveitis associated with connective tissue diseases remain relevant due to serious complications that significantly reduce vision and thus worsen the quality of life of patients. Aim. To study the frequency and prevalence, as well as clinical manifestations of ophthalmopathology in connective tissue diseases. Material and methods. A retrospective and prospective study of 534 patients (144 men and 390 women) with connective tissue diseases was conducted, in which ophthalmological disorders were detected. The patients underwent standard rheumatological examination in the department. And also, ophthalmological examination with the determination of visual acuity, intraocular pressure and the use of biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy (or cycloscopy). If necessary and possible, additional studies were performed such as: ultrasound B-scan, optical coherence tomography, perimetry. The study examined the type of common disease, age of onset and gender of the patient. Of particular interest were patients with uveal inflammation, in which the localization and nature of the course of inflammation were evaluated. Results and discussion. The most common diseases with eye damage were rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – 129 (24.1%), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – 92 (17.2%), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – 95 (17.8%), systemic scleroderma (SDS) – 54 (10.1%) and spondylarthritis (Spa) – 41 (7.8%). In a small percentage of cases, other connective tissue diseases were diagnosed, such as: mixed connective tissue diseases (MCTS) – 24 (4.5%), Overlap syndrome – 21 (3.9%), systemic vasculitis – 23 (4.3%), Behcet's syndrome -18 (3.4%), Sjogren disease – 14 (2.6%) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis - 7 (1.3%). All ophthalmic disorders were divided into four general groups and distributed as follows: inflammatory 27.7%, degenerative 4.9%, vascular 48.7%, side effects of glucocorticoids 18.7%. Uveitis accounted for 52 (9.7%) of all ophthalmopathology, occurring in connective tissue diseases. Unilateral acute anterior uveitis (AAU) was diagnosed in 13 (25%) patients with ankylosing spondylitis, of which 4 (7.8%) had a relapse in the paired eye. Simultaneously, bilateral AAU was detected in 3 (5.7%) patients with Behcet's syndrome. Chronic, recurrent posterior uveitis was diagnosed in 13 (25%) patients with Behcet's systemic vasculitis. All patients with Behcet's syndrome were male at the age of 31±3.1 years. The uveal process approximately started 3.2±1.16 years after the onset of systemic disease. Generalization of inflammation in all departments of uvea was detected in patients with PSA-5 (9.6%), AC – 3 (5.7%), DS – 2 (3.8%) and SLE – 2 (3.8%). In 5 (9.6%) patients, the process was bilateral. Inflammation of the paired eye by the type of AAU was observed in 1 patient and posterior uveitis - in 2 patients. Conclusions. Ophthalmic disorders in the structure of systemic diseases make up 20.2% and vary widely in their clinical manifestations. Chronic blepharoconjunctivitis, combined with rheumatoid arthritis (46%) is a common inflammation of the accessory structures of the eye. About 20% of patients have complications from general immunosuppressive therapy, leading to impaired visual function. The frequency of uveitis in the structure of ophthalmopathology associated with connective tissue disease is 9.7%. Uveitis associated with ankylosing spondylitis and systemic vasculitis of Behcet occurs in men at a younger age and is 31%. More than half (63%) of patients with uveitis have a severe course with the development of panuveitis and neuropathy. An increase in the thickness of the choroid (up to 2 mm) according to two-dimensional ultrasound is an early diagnostic criterion for the development of uveitis and the underlying disease of connective tissue. Keywords: inflammatory eye diseases, uveitis, connective tissue diseases, spondyloarthritis, Behcet's syndrome, complications.