Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with scleritis
Study design
Retrospective study
Methods
The clinical records of 123 patients with scleritis, who presented to the University of Tokyo Hospital between January, 2004 and December, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed.
Results
The cohort comprised 55 men and 68 women (mean age, 57.8±16.4 years), of which 76 showed anterior diffuse scleritis, 17 showed anterior nodular scleritis, 10 showed anterior necrotizing scleritis, and 20 showed posterior scleritis. The underlying etiology was identified in 39 patients. Autoimmune diseases were present in 32 patients, including eight with rheumatoid arthritis, seven with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vascular disease, and six with relapsing polychondritis. Ocular hypertension was the most common ocular complication (41%), followed by anterior chamber cells (38%). Fifty-three percent of patients required systemic immunosuppressive medication. Systemic corticosteroids were the most commonly used medication (45%), followed by methotrexate (11%). A, decrease in vision was observed in one-third of patients with anterior necrotizing scleritis or posterior scleritis, of which secondary glaucoma and optic neuritis were the major causes.
Conclusion
Autoimmune diseases were present in 26% of patients. One-third of patients with anterior necrotizing scleritis or posterior scleritis experienced decreased vision, mostly due to secondary glaucoma and optic neuritis. Therefore, controlling intraocular pressure by methods such as administration of steroid-sparing immunosuppressive medication and appropriate treatment for posterior scleritis are essential for scleritis treatment.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Science Research for Behet’s disease from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (no. 087100000332). This study was also supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant no. JP 16K11281.The manuscript was edited for English grammar by a native writer at Enago.
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R. Tanaka, Lecture fee (Eisai Japan); T. Kaburaki, Grant (Alcon, Eisai Japan, Santen, Tanabe-Mitsubishi), Lecture fees (AbbVie, Alcon, AMO, Eisai Japan, Kowa Pharmaceutical, Otsuka, Pfizer, Santen, Senju, Tanabe-Mitsubishi); K. Ohtomo, None; M. Takamoto, None; K. Komae, None; J. Numaga, None; Y. Fujino, Lecture fee (Eisai); M. Aihara, None.
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Tanaka, R., Kaburaki, T., Ohtomo, K. et al. Clinical characteristics and ocular complications of patients with scleritis in Japanese. Jpn J Ophthalmol 62, 517–524 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-018-0600-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-018-0600-y