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Patients with viral hepatitis may be at increased risk of uveitis
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Infection with viral hepatitis may increase a patient’s risk of having uveitis, a study suggested.
The retrospective cohort study included nationwide claims data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance System accrued between 2000 and 2011. Development of uveitis was assessed in 17,389 patients with newly diagnosed viral hepatitis and 34,778 control subjects without viral hepatitis who were matched by age, gender, monthly income and other variables. Cirrhosis was further assessed as an independent variable.
The risk of uveitis among patients with hepatitis was 1.3 times greater than in control subjects (P < .05). The risk was greatest in patients with hepatitis B and C coinfection, followed by patients with only hepatitis C.
Patients with hepatitis and liver cirrhosis also had an increased risk for uveitis, but the data did not yield a statistical difference.
Such results cannot be applied universally, according to the authors: “Because the incidence of HBV and HCV is relatively low in Western countries, the literature with large case numbers and similar findings is difficult to obtain. ... More robust evidence from further investigations about different viral infections or hepatic diseases is needed to explain the findings in this study.” – by Joe Green
Disclosure : The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Tien P, et al. Retina. 2016;doi:10.1097/IAE.0000000000001103.
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