Dammacco R, Biswas J, Mohanan-Earatt A, Lisch W, Zito FA, Rubini G, Manno C, Cicco S, Alessio G, Dammacco F. The eye is a common site of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. A collaborative study.
BMC Ophthalmol 2023;
23:26. [PMID:
36653761 PMCID:
PMC9850589 DOI:
10.1186/s12886-022-02743-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Ocular manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) have been reported in a limited number of studies and with largely variable frequency. Here we report on the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features of a cohort of 63 GPA patients, with particular regard to 22 of them with ophthalmic involvement (35%).
METHODS
Clinical manifestations, results of immunological findings, histopathological pictures, imaging data, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score, therapeutic regimens, and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. At diagnosis, in addition to a structured clinical assessment, all patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination.
RESULTS
The most frequently involved organs were kidneys, lungs, ear/nose/throat, and eyes. Ocular manifestations were bilateral in 32%. The three most commonly diagnosed ophthalmologic manifestations were scleritis (36%), retro-orbital pseudotumor or orbital mass (23%), and episcleritis (13%). Ocular and systemic involvement were simultaneously present at onset in 41% of the patients; systemic involvement was followed by ocular lesions in 36%; ocular inflammation was followed by systemic manifestations in 18%; and an orbital mass in the absence of systemic disease characterized 5%. Glucocorticoids plus cyclophosphamide and glucocorticoids plus rituximab were the combined therapies most frequently employed during remission induction and remission maintenance, respectively. Persistent ophthalmologic and extra-ocular remissions were achieved in 77 and 64% of the patients, respectively. One to three systemic relapses were diagnosed in 7 patients (31.8%). At the last follow-up, a visual outcome 20/40 or better in 31 (70%) of 44 eyes was determined.
CONCLUSIONS
The eye was involved in over one third of our patients with GPA. Increased awareness, early diagnosis, and multi-specialty collaboration are critical in achieving a favorable outcome of GPA.
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