Retinopathy in systemic sclerosis patients : association with clinical and laboratory findings

Abstract EN

Objective : to characterize the retinal abnormalities in systemic sclerosis patients (SSc) and to clarify its relation to other clinical and laboratory findings.

Methods : Thirty two SSc patients (20 dSSc and 12 LSSc) were included in this study.

They were subjected to thorough clinical examination and laboratory investigations.

Ophthalmological examination was carried out by an ophthalmologist without knowledge of the condition of the patients or of laboratory findings.

Clinical and laboratory findings in the patients with retinopathy were compared to those without retinopathy.

Results : Retinopathy was found in 13 / 32 (41 %) patients.

The findings included hard exudates and vascular tortuosity.

The patients with retinopathy had higher frequency of renal affection than those without retinopathy.

Conclusion : Retinal abnormalities in SSc patients may reflect the vascular changes characteristic of SSc and may be associated with renal affection.