Acute anterior uveitis and spondyloarthropathies.

An acute onset, unilateral anterior uveitis occurs during the course of either Reiter's syndrome or ankylosing spondylitis. Conversely, many patients who suffer from an acute anterior uveitis are HLA-B27-positive and have associated joint disease. The consistent presentation of the uveitis can aid in the process of differential diagnosis. This article includes a discussion of the recognition of the characteristic presentation, the complications, the role of B27 testing, the relevance of animal models, the pathogenesis, and treatment.