Internal Medicine

0521779407-21 CUNY1086/Karliner 0 521 77940 7 June 7, 2007 18:59

1502 Urticaria (Rheumatology) Uveitis

complications & prognosis

Complications

■Hypotension: epinephrine, supportive therapy

■Laryngeal edema: tracheotomy may be required

■In hereditary angioedema: bowel wall edema mimicking intestinal

obstruction is treated w/ IV fluids, nasogastric suction, not laparo-

tomy

Prognosis

■Chronic urticaria & angioedema remits: 65% in 3 years, 65% in

3 years, 98% in 10 years

■Hereditary angioedema can be maintained symptom-free w/

impeded androgens

UVEITIS

HENRY J. KAPLAN, MD and SHLOMIT SCHAAL, MD

definitions

The uvea (from the Latin uva, meaning grape) is a pigmented vascular

structure consisting of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid.

Uveitis is an ocular inflammatory process that may have many dif-

ferent causes. Some uveitides are solely ocular, but many are associated

with systemic diseases.

Uveitis that is primarily located in the front part of the eye is called

anterior uveitis (or iritis). The inflammatory process may involve other

parts of the eye as well, and then it is called either intermediate uveitis

(inflammation in the vitreous body) or posterior uveitis (inflammation

of the retina and/or choroid). Some patients have panuveitis, which is

an inflammation of both the anterior and posterior segments of the eye.

Acute uveitis is defined as a disease <3 months in duration. After

3 months, the uveitis is defined as chronic.

history & physical

History

■Previous episode of uveitis

■Exclude trauma or previous intraocular surgery

■Underlying systemic disease:

➣Immunocompromised: AIDS, cancer, immunosuppressive med-

ications