Vitamin D status in active and inactive noninfectious uveitis - data from a reference university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and disease activity in patients with noninfectious uveitis. METHODS: We conducted a prospective case-control study, assessing 51 patients with noninfectious uveitis, categorized into active (n=22) and inactive (n=29) groups, along with 51 healthy controls. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured. The uveitis group also completed a questionnaire regarding sunlight exposure habits and vitamin D supplementation. RESULTS: Patients with inflammation-related uveitis exhibited low serum 25(OH)D levels in 68% of cases. The median 25(OH)D level in patients with active uveitis was 17.8 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR], 15-21 ng/mL), significantly lower compared to the 31.7 ng/mL (IQR, 25-39 ng/mL) in patients with inactive uveitis (p<0.001) and the 27 ng/mL (IQR, 23-31 ng/mL) in the Control Group (p<0.001). Significantly, nearly all patients with uveitis taking vitamin D supplementation were in the Inactive Group (p<0.005). Moreover, reduced sunlight exposure was associated with active uveitis (p<0.003). Furthermore, patients with 25(OH)D levels below 20 ng/mL had ten times higher odds of developing active uveitis (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a prevalent 25(OH)D deficiency among patients with noninfectious uveitis and suggested a link between low 25(OH)D levels and disease activity. To prevent future episodes of intraocular inflammation, vitamin D supplementation and controlled sunlight exposure could be viable options.

Artrite reativa pós-COVID-19: relato de caso / Reactive arthritis after COVID-19: a case report

As complicações associadas à COVID-19 incluem insuficiência renal, miocardite, eventos trombóticos e retinite. No entanto, outras manifestações, como a artrite reativa, também parecem estar atreladas a este vírus e precisam ser mais bem investigadas. O caso relatado se refere a uma paciente de 32 anos, do sexo feminino, na cidade do Rio de Janeiro (RJ), que desenvolveu um quadro de artrite reativa após 5 dias da manifestação de sintomas gripais. Foram realizados exames laboratoriais, GeneXpert para COVID-19 e punção do líquido sinovial. Observou-se GeneXpert positivo para COVID-19, aumento nos marcadores inflamatórios, marcadores sorológicos de autoimunidade não reagentes e cultura negativa no líquido sinovial. Esses resultados descartam artrite séptica, bem como artrite reumatoide, passando a ser considerado o quadro de artrite pós-infecciosa decorrente do SARS-CoV-2.

Complications associated with COVID-19 include renal failure, myocarditis, thrombotic events, and retinitis. However, other manifestations, such as reactive arthritis, also seem to be associated with infection and require further investigation. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman in Rio de Janeiro, RJ who developed reactive arthritis 5 days after the onset of flulike symptoms. Laboratory tests, GeneXpert for COVID-19, and synovial fluid puncture were performed. Positive GeneXpert results for COVID-19, increased inflammatory markers, non-reactive serological markers of autoimmunity, and negative culture in synovial fluid were observed. These results ruled out both septic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, leading to a diagnosis of postinfectious arthritis resulting from SARS-CoV-2.

Causes and characteristics of uveitis cases at a reference university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Causas e características das uveítes em hospital universitário de referência no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of uveitis cases treated at University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho and to identify the presentation pattern of intraocular inflammation on the basis of clinical, anatomical, etiological, and demographic criteria. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the medical records of 408 patients with active disease who attended the ophthalmology service between March and October 2018. Age, sex, visual acuity at the time of diagnosis, anatomical and etiological diagnoses, the clinical aspect, and the main symptoms reported during anamnesis were described. Results: Of the 408 patients in the study, 52% were male and 48% were female. The patients' mean age was 42 years, and most (84%) were between 19 and 64 years old. Anterior uveitis was observed in 37.75% of the patients; posterior uveitis, in 49.75%; panuveitis, in 4.66%; and intermediate uveitis, in 3.43%. Only 18 patients (4.41%) presented with scleritis. Of the 390 patients with anatomical classifications, 76% had known etiologies, with the most prevalent diagnoses being toxoplasmosis (35.4%), followed by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (6.4%), ankylosing spondylitis (5.9%), and syphilis (4.9%). Infectious uveitis corresponded to 49.7% of the patients, while 26.6% of the cases were of noninfectious origin. Anterior uveitis had the highest number of cases classified as idiopathic (49.4%). In the cases of posterior uveitis, the etiology was established 94% of the time. The most frequent symptoms were ocular pain (71.8%) and blurring vision (56.8%). Conclusions: The present study confirmed the historical importance of infectious uveitis in our population, especially ocular toxoplasmosis. Uveitis appears to have no predilection for sex but mainly affects young people of working age, thus generating social and economic consequences. Despite the evolution of diagnostic methods, idiopathic uveitis remains one of the major etiologies. Epidemiological studies point to different presentation patterns of uveitis in different populations, but these may reflect the distinct characteristics of each institution.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o perfil epidemiológico das uveítes atendidas no Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho - UFRJ. Identificando o padrão de apresentação da inflamação intraocular a partir de critérios clínicos, anatômicos, etiológicos e demográficos. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, com base em prontuários de 408 pacientes com doença ativa, atendidos no serviço de oftalmologia no período de março a outubro de 2018. Foram descritos a idade, sexo, acuidade visual no momento do diagnóstico, diagnóstico anatômico e etiológico, aspecto clínico, além dos principais sintomas relatados durante a anamnese. Resultados: Dos 408 pacientes do estudo, 52% eram do sexo masculino e 48% do feminino. A idade média dos pacientes foi de 42 anos, a maioria (84%) entre 19 e 64 anos. Uveíte anterior foi observada em 37,75% dos pacientes, uveíte posterior em 49,75%, panuveíte em 4,66% e uveíte intermediária em 3,43%; apenas 18 pacientes (4,41%) apresentaram diagnóstico de esclerite. Dos 390 pacientes com classificação anatômica, a etiologia foi determinada em 76% deles, com os diagnósticos mais prevalentes sendo Toxoplasmose (35,4%), artrite idiopática juvenil (6,4%), espondilite anquilosante (5,9%) e sífilis (4,9%). ) A uveíte infecciosa correspondeu a 49,7% desses pacientes, enquanto 26,6% eram de origem não infecciosa. A uveíte anterior teve o maior número de casos classificados como idiopáticos (49,4%), enquanto a uveíte posterior teve a etiologia estabelecida em 94% das vezes. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram dor ocular (71,8%) e visão embaçada (56,8%). Conclusões: O presente estudo confirmou a importância histórica da uveíte infecciosa em nossa população, principalmente a toxoplasmose ocular. As uveítes parecem não ter predileção por sexo, mas afetam principalmente jovens em idade ativa, gerando consequências sociais e econômicas. Apesar da evolução nos métodos diagnósticos, a uveíte idiopática continua sendo uma das principais causas. Estudos epidemiológicos apontam para diferentes padrões de uveíte nas populações, estes podem refletir características particulares de cada instituição.

Causes and characteristics of uveitis cases at a reference university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of uveitis cases treated at University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho and to identify the presentation pattern of intraocular inflammation on the basis of clinical, anatomical, etiological, and demographic criteria. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the medical records of 408 patients with active disease who attended the ophthalmology service between March and October 2018. Age, sex, visual acuity at the time of diagnosis, anatomical and etiological diagnoses, the clinical aspect, and the main symptoms reported during anamnesis were described. RESULTS: Of the 408 patients in the study, 52% were male and 48% were female. The patients' mean age was 42 years, and most (84%) were between 19 and 64 years old. Anterior uveitis was observed in 37.75% of the patients; posterior uveitis, in 49.75%; panuveitis, in 4.66%; and intermediate uveitis, in 3.43%. Only 18 patients (4.41%) presented with scleritis. Of the 390 patients with anatomical classifications, 76% had known etiologies, with the most prevalent diagnoses being toxoplasmosis (35.4%), followed by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (6.4%), ankylosing spondylitis (5.9%), and syphilis (4.9%). Infectious uveitis corresponded to 49.7% of the patients, while 26.6% of the cases were of noninfectious origin. Anterior uveitis had the highest number of cases classified as idiopathic (49.4%). In the cases of posterior uveitis, the etiology was established 94% of the time. The most frequent symptoms were ocular pain (71.8%) and blurring vision (56.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed the historical importance of infectious uveitis in our population, especially ocular toxoplasmosis. Uveitis appears to have no predilection for sex but mainly affects young people of working age, thus generating social and economic consequences. Despite the evolution of diagnostic methods, idiopathic uveitis remains one of the major etiologies. Epidemiological studies point to different presentation patterns of uveitis in different populations, but these may reflect the distinct characteristics of each institution.