Uveitis in HIV-Infected Patients

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of HIV infection and to find out the possible causes (associated conditions) of uveitis in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 581 patients with uveitis diagnosed over an 11-year period. All patients received a routine eye examination and most of them a general examination as well as complementary tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of HIV infection was 14.3% (89 patients). Anterior uveitis (62%) was the most frequent form, followed by posterior uveitis (22%), panuveitis (12%) and intermediate uveitis (4%). Associated conditions or causes were found in 88% of these 89 patients, the most frequent being Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (43%), tuberculosis (16%), CMV infection (12%) and toxoplasmosis (10%). CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected patients uveitis is frequently associated with opportunistic infections.