title: Lymphopenia as a predictor of sarcoidosis in patients with uveitis.
abstract: To investigate the hypothesis that lymphopenia is an independent predictor of sarcoidosis in new patients presenting with uveitis.
  
  
  
  Retrospective case-control study of 112 patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis (SAU) against 398 controls with other forms of uveitis.
  
  
  
  Of the patients with SAU, 30/112 (26.8%) had significant lymphopenia (<1.0×10(9)/L), compared with 24/398 (6.0%) for other uveitis (p≤0.0001, OR 5.7 (95% CI 3.2 to 10.3)). The mean lymphocyte count for patients with SAU was 1.43 vs 2.04 for other uveitis (p≤0.0001). Logistic regression modelling using diagnosis of SAU as the independent variable identified age, ACE levels and lymphocyte count as independent predictors of SAU. A new patient with uveitis with significant lymphopenia has a risk of sarcoidosis (from this parameter alone) of 31.6%.
  
  
  
  Significant lymphopenia (<1.0×10(9)/L) is an independent predictor of sarcoidosis in new patients presenting with uveitis. We recommend that diagnostic criteria for SAU should be modified to include this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, Centre for Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Institute of Human Development, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, Centre for Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Institute of Human Development, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tsierkezou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, Centre for Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Institute of Human Development, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diagnostic tests/Investigation; Inflammation