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. 2024 Apr 26;24(1):196.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-024-03458-x.

New-onset or relapse of uveitis after rapid spreading of COVID-19 infection in China and risk factor analysis for relapse

Kaixuan Wang #  1 , Jiawen Li #  1 , Kailei Guo  1 , Xiaomin Zhang  2
Affiliations

New-onset or relapse of uveitis after rapid spreading of COVID-19 infection in China and risk factor analysis for relapse

Kaixuan Wang et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to report the clinical profile of new-onset and relapse of uveitis following rapid spreading of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection due to change of anti-COVID-19 policies in China and investigate potential risk factors for inflammation relapse.

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, patients with new-onset or a history of uveitis between December 23, 2022, and February 28, 2023, were included to assess the influence of COVID-19 infection on uveitis. Detailed information on demographic data, clinical characteristics, treatment measures, treatment response, and ocular inflammatory status before and after COVID-19 infection was collected.

Results: This study included 349 patients with a history of uveitis. The uveitis relapse rate was higher (28.8%, n = 288) in those with COVID-19 infection than in patients without COVID-19 infection (14.8%, n = 61) (P = 0.024). Among the relapse cases, 50.8% experienced a relapse of anterior uveitis, while 49.2% had a relapse of uveitis involving the posterior segment. Multivariable regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between disease duration and uveitis relapse, while the last relapse exceeding one year before COVID-19 infection and the use of methotrexate during COVID-19 infection were negatively correlated with relapse of uveitis. Thirteen patients who developed new-onset uveitis following COVID-19 infection were included; among them, three (23.1%) had anterior uveitis and 10 (76.9%) had uveitis affecting the posterior segment. Regarding cases involving the posterior segment, four patients (30.8%) were diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

Conclusions: COVID-19 infection increases the rate of uveitis relapse. Long disease duration is a risk factor, while time since the last relapse more than 1 year and methotrexate use are protective factors against uveitis relapse.

Keywords: COVID-19; Methotrexate; Ocular inflammation; Uveitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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