Characterisation of uveitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Objective-The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteris tics of uveitis related to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and also to compare t he uveitis in Psii to the uveitis in spondyloarthropathy (SA). Methods-Sixteen patients with uveitis and PsA were evaluated in a tertiary care uveitis clinic. These patients were compared retrospectively to a seri es of 89 patients with uveitis and SA. Results-Eight (50%) of the 16 patients with uveitis had strictly peripheral arthritis, while two (12.5%) had axial only, and six (37.5%) had axial and peripheral arthritis. Patients with uveitis and axial disease were more li kely to be male (100% v 38%) and HLA-B27 positive (6 of 6 typed positive v 0 of 3 typed positive) when compared with those with uveitis and peripheral arthritis only. Compared with patients with SA, those with PsA were more L ikely to have insidious onset (19% v 3%), simultaneously bilateral (37.5% v 7%), chronic duration (31% v 6%), or posterior (44% v 17%) uveitis. Compli cations of uveitis were similar in the SA and PsA groups. Conclusion-Uveitis in patients with PsA was more Likely to be insidious in onset, continuous, posterior, and active bilaterally compared with uveitis in patients with SA. Patients with uveitis and axial involvement were more likely to be male and HLA-B27 positive compared with patients with uveitis and peripheral arthritis alone. Patients with seronegative arthritis and uv eitis that begins insidiously, lasts longer than six months, is bilateral, or is posterior, should be carefully questioned about the presence of eithe r psoriasis or inflammatory bowel disease.