Abstract

SO.20.04

Cigarette smoking affects course of disease in non-infectious uveitis and scleritis

Martin Rösel, Anne Ruttig, Carsten Heinz, Nadine Dück, Arnd Heiligenhaus
Augenabteilung am St. Franziskus-Hospital Münster, Münster

Objective
Former studies described that cigarette smoking affects course of autoimmune diseases predominantly negatively (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, crohn´s disease) but also positively (parkinson disease). Aim of this study is to analyze the effect of cigarette smoking on course of disease in noninfectious uveitis and scleritis.
Methods
697 eyes from 404 patients with noninfectious uveitis (369 patients) or scleritis (35 patients) were analyzed. All patients completed a questionnaire with regard to smoking habits. Differents between smokers and non-smokers concerning immunosuppression, inflammation, blood aquous barrier stability (laser flare photometry), visual acuity, and complications were evaluated.
Results
278 patients (69%) were non-smokers, 126 patients (31%) were smokers and 40 patients (10%) were heavy smokers (20 or more cigarettes daily). There were no significant differents between smokers and non-smokers regarding second-line immunosuppression (p=0,91), number of required immunosuppressive drugs (p=0,86), systemic corticosteroid use (p=0,32), visual acuity (0,82), laserflare photometry (p=0,47), secondary glaucoma (p=0,89), and cataract frequency (p=0,09). Pack years correlated significantly with the presence of macular edema (0,021), and smokers more often had active inflammation (p=0,03).
Conclusions
There were no differents concerning required immunosuppression and visual acuity. Smokers had more often active inflammation and pack years correlated with the presence of macular edema.

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