UVEITIS IN NORTHERN PORTUGAL

During the past four years 450 patients (247 female - mean age 36 years and 203 male - mean age 34 years) with intraocular inflammation were evaluated using standard diagnostic criteria, to establish a uveitis survey profile. Patients were divided into four anatomic groups: anterior uveitis (270 cases = 60% posterior uveitis (108 cases = 24% panuveitis (54 cases = 12% and intermediate uveitis (18 cases = 4% A probable astiological diagnosis was made in 232 cases (51.5% Rheumatic diseases were diagnosed most commonly (55 cases = 12.2% mainly ankylosing spondylitis, as is true for other European countries. Ocular toxoplasmosis was a frequent cause of uveitis, as in Brazil and West Africa, thus requiring a prompt diagnosis and treatment. Behçet's syndrome was associated with HLA B5 (65% as in Japanese and Mediterranean populations. In our area AIDS retinitis is becoming an important differential diagnosis. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.