Risk factors for uveitis in sarcoidosis

Uveitis is a potentially sight-threatening complication of sarcoidosis. The object of this study was to determine which patients with sarcoidosis are at greater risk of developing uveitis. We retrospectively assessed 136 patients with clinical, radiological and histological features of sarcoidosis. Of the 48 patients (35,3%) with signs of intra-ocular inflammation, 28 had anterior uveitis, 2 had posterior uveitis and 18 had signs of panuveitis. When patients with uveitis were compared with patients without ophthalmic involvement, no significant demographic, clinical or laboratory differences were found. On linear discriminant analysis, however, the presence of ocular inflammation could be predicted in 32 out of 48 patients (66,6%); age at diagnosis and an elevated serum calcium level were relative risk factors. Awareness of the high incidence of uveitis and education of those at greater risk may result in earlier diagnosis and treatment of ocular inflammation.S Afr Med J 1993; 83: 342-344