Multiple sclerosis-associated uveitis.

Background/aims: To describe the clinical characteristics and course of 16 patients with uveitis associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: The records of 1254 patients with uveitis were reviewed. Sixteen of these patients had MS. The history, review of systems, ocular findings, and clinical test results of each of these 16 subjects were analyzed. The mean follow-up time was 38 months.

Results: Most patients with MS-associated uveitis were white females between 20 and 50 years of age. The diagnosis of MS preceded the onset of uveitis in 56%, followed it in 25%, and was made concurrently in 19% of the cases. In 94%, the uveitis was bilateral. Pars planitis was the most frequent form of uveitis in our study population (81%); concomitant anterior chamber inflammation was common and was granulomatous in nature 56% of the time. Forty-one percent of the eyes with MS-associated uveitis had 20/30 or better initial visual acuity. Among these treated patients, significant loss of visual acuity was uncommon.

Conclusions: MS-associated uveitis should be suspected in white female patients with bilateral uveitis, especially if pars planitis is present. These patients often retain useful vision for many years if treated.