Abstract
PurposeOur aim was to summarize key aspects of the pathomechanism and the ocular involvements of rheumatic and systemic autoimmune diseases.MethodsApart from a paper in French (Morax V, Ann Oculist 109:368–370, 1893), all papers referred to in this article were published in English. All the materials were peer-reviewed full-text papers, letters, reviews, or book chapters obtained through a literature search of the PubMed database using the keywords ocular manifestations; pathogenesis; systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases; rheumatoid arthritis; osteoarthritis; fibromyalgia; systemic lupus erythematosus; seronegative spondyloarthritis; ankylosing spondylitis; reactive arthritis; enteropathic arthritis; psoriatic arthritis; systemic sclerosis; polymyalgia rheumatica and covering all years available. Some statements articulated in this paper reflect the clinical experience of the authors in their tertiary-referral center.ResultsOphthalmic disorders are categorized by anatomical subgroups in all rheumatic diseases. The most common ocular manifestations are diverse types of inflammations of different tissues and dry eye disease (DED).ConclusionThe eye could be a responsive marker for the onset or aggravation of an immune reactivation in many rheumatic diseases, furthermore, ocular findings can antedate the diagnosis of the underlying rheumatic disease. By recognizing ocular manifestations of systemic rheumatic diseases it might be possible to avoid or at least delay many long term sequelae.
Highlights
Most of the inflammatory rheumatic diseases are systemic conditions with several clinical and pathological manifestations outside of the joints
Ophthalmic disorders are categorized by anatomical subgroups in all rheumatic diseases
The eye could be a responsive marker for the onset or aggravation of an immune reactivation in many rheumatic diseases, ocular findings can antedate the diagnosis of the underlying rheumatic disease
Summary
Most of the inflammatory rheumatic diseases are systemic conditions with several clinical and pathological manifestations outside of the joints. Inflammatory rheumatic diseases can have destructive effects since as a consequence of vascular abnormality immunoregulatory molecules present in ocular fluids are changed and milieu interieur inside the eye is modulated. Ophthalmologically may the identification of ocular signs and symptoms be of importance, but ocular inflammation could be a sensitive marker for the severity of the systemic condition; ocular involvement can antedate exacerbation of an immune reaction in many systemic diseases. Knowledge of ocular manifestations of rheumatic diseases is indispensable for both rheumatologists and immunologists. This review article intends to resume the key pathogenic events, as well as to depict ophthalmologic manifestations of rheumatic diseases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
