Scleritis: presentations, disease associations and management.

Abstract

Scleritis is a serious inflammatory condition that is often painful, and in severe cases can result in permanent loss of vision. Approximately half the patients affected have no identifiable cause, but 30%-40% have an underlying systemic autoimmune condition. Scleritis may be the initial manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis or rheumatoid arthritis, and all patients with scleritis require a thorough systemic evaluation. Scleritis has a variable presentation and disease course, and may be an acute monophasic illness, a relapsing remitting process, or take a chronic course. Treatment options include local therapy with subconjunctival steroid injections for non-necrotising scleritis, and systemic anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive therapy. Biologic agents have been used with success in some refractory cases. Ocular and systemic morbidity is reduced by timely treatment with immunosuppressant medications.

• Authors: Joanne Sims
• Journal: Postgraduate medical journal (Postgrad Med J) Vol. 88 Issue 1046 Pg. 713-8 (Dec 2012) ISSN: 1469-0756 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22977282 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (complications, drug therapy)
• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Scleritis (complications, drug therapy, etiology)