Abstract
The role of infectious agents in autoimmune diseases has been the subject of several studies and is still under investigation. Here a paediatric case series of autoimmune uveitis is reported. An exacerbation of the ocular inflammation occurred in concomitance with nasal colonisation by Staphylococcus aureus.
Highlights
Sir, Infectious agents are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases
We describe three paediatric cases that tested positive for nasal Staphylococcus aureus concomitantly with the reactivation of their autoimmune ocular inflammation
Several immunological mechanisms have been proposed to explain the relationship between some infectious agents and an active status of autoimmune diseases
Summary
Infectious agents are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases. Elimination of the bacterial infection resulted in complete recovery [6]. We describe three paediatric cases that tested positive for nasal Staphylococcus aureus concomitantly with the reactivation of their autoimmune ocular inflammation. Systemic immune-modulating treatment resulted in satisfactory control of the ocular disease, with visual recovery in 15-30 days. Nasal swab specimens obtained pre-treatment, while ocular inflammation was still active, tested negative for bacterial colonisation in all cases. Nasal swab culture was repeated at the time of reactivation and tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus in all cases, in the absence of any respiratory symptoms. Complete quiescence of the ocular inflammation was achieved after three weeks. At this time nasal swabs tested negative in 2/3 boys
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