Effectiveness of methylprednisolone in ankylosing spondylitis patients with acute anterior uveitis

Purpose: Through observing the effect of high-dose methylprednisolone treatment on active AS with acute anterior uveitis (AAU) to evaluate the influence of methylprednisolone on the serological cytokines IL-23 and IL-17 in AS patients with AAU. We try to explore the clinical effect and possible mechanism of high-dose methylprednisolone treatment on AS with AAU. Methods: The present study included 40 AS patients who were recruited according to the 1984 revision of the AS classification standards in New York. The clinical characteristics of the patients were assessed. Of the 40 AS patients, 4 had AAU. The patients were administered methylprednisolone at a dose of 3-4 mg/kg/d through the vein for 3 days, and a total of 3 courses were administered with an interval of 4 days. We observed the degree of eye inflammation before and after the treatment. Additionally, the levels of the cytokines IL-23 and IL-17 were measured. Results: In the 4 AS patients with AAU, the eye symptoms and visual acuity improved after treatment with high-dose methylprednisolone. Additionally, the serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 declined significantly. Conclusion: High dose methylprednisolone had a distinct curative effect in active AS patients with AAU, especially for local therapy incompletely response or ineffective AAU. Additionally, high dose methylprednisolone can significantly reduce the levels of IL-23 and IL-17 in AS patients with AAU.