TY - JOUR
T1 - Chronic non-infectious uveitis in the elderly: epidemiology, pathophysiology and management
AU - Gupta, R
AU - Murray, Philip
PY - 2006/1/1
Y1 - 2006/1/1
N2 - Intraocular inflammatory diseases are collectively known as uveitis. The aetiology of this condition can be diverse, as inflammation may result from direct involvement of the uveal tract or indirect inflammation of adjacent tissues. Uveitis can present challenges to diagnosis and treatment, and is potentially a severe sight-threatening disease. In the elderly, uveitis can present de novo after the age of 60 years or may represent a process earlier in life continuing after the age of 60 years, although many cases will have become quiescent by that time. More recent studies suggest that uveitis presenting after 60 years of age is more common than previously believed. Most cases of uveitis are of unknown aetiology and are classed as idiopathic, although sarcoidosis, ocular ischaemia and birdshot chorioretinopathy are recognised non-infectious causes of uveitis in the elderly. Systemic immunosuppression, with its well known complications, may be required to preserve vision. In this age group, one should always have high suspicion of a masquerade syndrome, particularly a primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. With the demographics of the elderly population changing and mean life expectancy increasing, it is important that clinicians are familiar with uveitis as a potential cause of visual impairment in this age group.
AB - Intraocular inflammatory diseases are collectively known as uveitis. The aetiology of this condition can be diverse, as inflammation may result from direct involvement of the uveal tract or indirect inflammation of adjacent tissues. Uveitis can present challenges to diagnosis and treatment, and is potentially a severe sight-threatening disease. In the elderly, uveitis can present de novo after the age of 60 years or may represent a process earlier in life continuing after the age of 60 years, although many cases will have become quiescent by that time. More recent studies suggest that uveitis presenting after 60 years of age is more common than previously believed. Most cases of uveitis are of unknown aetiology and are classed as idiopathic, although sarcoidosis, ocular ischaemia and birdshot chorioretinopathy are recognised non-infectious causes of uveitis in the elderly. Systemic immunosuppression, with its well known complications, may be required to preserve vision. In this age group, one should always have high suspicion of a masquerade syndrome, particularly a primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. With the demographics of the elderly population changing and mean life expectancy increasing, it is important that clinicians are familiar with uveitis as a potential cause of visual impairment in this age group.
U2 - 10.2165/00002512-200623070-00001
DO - 10.2165/00002512-200623070-00001
M3 - Article
C2 - 16930083
SN - 1170-229X
VL - 23
SP - 535
EP - 558
JO - Drugs and Aging
JF - Drugs and Aging
IS - 7
ER -