Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated uveitis in India - A case series

Kowsigan Magesan; Purna Nangia; Anitha Manoharan; Ranju K Sitaula; Chandrashekara Srikantiah; Jyotirmay Biswas

doi:10.4103/IJO.IJO_1579_23

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated uveitis in India - A case series

Indian J Ophthalmol. 2024 May 1;72(5):677-680. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1579_23. Epub 2023 Dec 15.

Authors

Kowsigan Magesan¹, Purna Nangia¹, Anitha Manoharan¹, Ranju K Sitaula², Chandrashekara Srikantiah³, Jyotirmay Biswas¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Uvea, Medical and Vision Research Foundations, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
² Department of Uvea, Uveitis Specialist, BPKLCOS, IOM, TU, Nepal.
³ Department of Uvea, ChanRe Rheumatology and Immunology Center and Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

PMID: 38099362
DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1579_23

Abstract

Purpose: To report the uveitic manifestations of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of all SLE cases with ocular manifestations seen by a single ophthalmologist between 2015 and December 2021.

Results: In total, seven patients with a median age of 40 (range 18-50) years were included in the study. Female (85.7%) predominance was noted. Ocular findings were bilateral in 71% (five patients) of cases. Majority (10 eyes, 83%) of the patients had retinal vasculitis as the common finding. Antinuclear antibodies were positive in all the patients. The vision improved in two (16.6%) eyes, was stable in eight (66%) eyes, and worsened in one (8%) eye. All the patients were treated with oral steroids along with immunosuppressive agents.

Conclusion: Though SLE is rare cause of uveitis, it can be associated with significant ocular morbidity. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment can salvage vision in many cases.