title: Clinical patterns of uveitis in two ophthalmology centres in Bogota, Colombia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the distribution pattern and the clinical features of uveitis in two ophthalmology referral centres in Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study in which clinical records of patients attending the centres between 1996 and 2006 were systematically reviewed. Data were analysed and compared with previous reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uveitis was found in 693 patients: 335 men (48.3%) and 358 women (51.7%). The mean age for the first presentation was 31.7 +/- 18.3 years. Unilateral (73.4%), acute (68.3%), posterior (35.9%) and non-granulomatous (90.6%) were the most common types of uveitis found in the sample. Toxoplasmosis was the most frequent cause in this study followed in order by idiopathic and toxocariasis. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, Behçet's disease, sarcoidosis and white dot syndromes were less common. Some causes such as systemic lupus erythematosus and tuberculosis were extremely rare. Presumed ocular histoplasmosis, onchocerciasis and Lyme disease were absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study provide the first report of clinical patterns for uveitis in Colombia. This study will enhance awareness of uveitis, and data should assist in the development of public health policies in our population for the improvement of patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Estudio en Parasitología Molecular (GEPAMOL), Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia. alejadelatorre@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de-la-Torre
authors.forename: Christian Adrián
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: López-Castillo
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.forename: Rubén Darío
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Mantilla
authors.forename: Jorge Enrique
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gómez-Marín
authors.forename: Juan-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Anaya
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014605:Uveitis / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology