Diabetes Mellitus-Associated Uveitis: Clinical Features in a Chilean Series

Abstract

Purpose: To describe clinical features of patients with diabetes mellitus-associated uveitis (DMAU).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients with uveitis and diabetes mellitus (DM) presented in an uveitis referral centre in Chile.

Demographic data, comorbidities, complete ophthalmic examination, and treatments were analyzed.

Results: We found 72 patients with uveitis and DM: 16 with DMAU and poorly regulated DM (22%), 15 with DMAU and well-controlled DM (21%), and 41 with uveitis due to established other causes than DM (57%).

Patients with DMAU in poorly regulated diabetes, presented inflammation of 3-4+ cells in 33%, a fibrinous reaction in 28%, hypopyon in 17% and posterior synechiae in 83%, compared with 5%, 0%, 0%, and 50% in the group with well-controlled DM, respectively (p < 0.05).

Most DMAU patients responded well to topical or periocular steroids.

Conclusion: Patients with DMAU with poorly regulated DM present a more severe inflammation compared with patients with DMAU with well-controlled DM.