Clinical and immunological features of uveitis in patients with rheumatic diseases

Purpose: based on the data of clinical and immunological studies, to optimize the diagnosis of uveitis in patients with rheumatic diseases. Material and Methods. The study involved 70 people (70 eyes): group I — patients with acute uveitis (33 people, 66 eyes); group II — patients with uncomplicated chronic uveitis (37 people, 74 eyes). The control group (III) consisted of 40 people (80 eyes). All patients underwent a general ophthalmological examination, biochemical, immunological blood tests, ultrasound dopplerography (USDG) of the arteria ophthalmica (АО) and its branches: the central retinal artery (CRA) and posterior short ciliary arteries (PSCA). Results. In patients of group I, an increase in systolic and diastolic blood flow velocity, a decrease in the pulsation index in АО (0.53±0.04), CRA(0.51±0.14), PSCA (0.58±0.004), an increase in the index of resistivity in АО (1.66±0.21) were revealed. In patients of group II: a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood flow velocity, an increase in the pulsation index in АО (0.79±0.57), CRA (0.76±0.11), PSCA(0.76±0.11) and index resistivity in АО (1.59±0.15), CRA(1.59±0.15), PSCA(1.63±0.26). Group III: no changes in hemodynamics were found. In patients of groups I and II, there was an increase in the levels of cytokines IL-1 (3, IL-6, in all nosological forms of anterior uveitis on rheumatic diseases background. Conclusion. Uveitis is characterized by a diagnostically significant disturbance of blood flow mainly in the АО and its branches according to the results of Doppler ultrasound. In rheumatic uveitis, an increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines was found, to a greater extent in the acute phase of inflammation.