The monthly variation in acute anterior uveitis in a community-based ophthalmology practice.
BACKGROUND
A significant increase in the number of episodes of acute anterior uveitis was found in December for two consecutive years at a community-based ophthalmology practice.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the monthly variation in episodes of acute anterior uveitis (AAU).


METHODS
The charts of all patients with AAU in a practice within a community-based multispecialty ophthalmology group in Albuquerque, New Mexico, were reviewed. Seventy-seven patients with acute, self limited, nontraumatic, unilateral, nongranulomatous anterior uveitis over a two-year period were identified.


RESULTS
Ninety-four episodes of AAU occurred in 77 patients (42 men, 35 women). The median number of episodes of AAU was three episodes per month (range: 0-14 episodes/month). An increased number of episodes was found in December of both years (11 in December 1996 [p < 0.01] and 14 in December 1997 [p < 0.003]). Smaller clusters of AAU were seen in other months, but did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of a seasonal variation in the number of episodes of AAU suggests that environmental factors are important. A search for such factors that increase the risk of AAU during selected periods may be useful for a better understanding of disease pathogenesis.
Levinson
Ralph D
RD
Eye Associates of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Greenhill
Leah H
LH
D000208:Acute Disease; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009885:Ophthalmology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics
D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen