Eye inflammation in psoriatic arthritis.

In a study of 112 patients (49 men, 63 women) with psoriatic arthritis, ocular inflammation was noted in 35 (31.2%). Conjunctivitis was the most common lesion, being found in 19.6% (10 males, 12 females). Iritis occurred in 7.1% (5 men, 3 women), episcleritis in 1.8% (1 man, 1 woman), and keratoconjunctivitis sicca in 2.7% (3 women). 20 patients (10 men, 10 women) had radiological sacroiliitis and 11 of these (7 men, 4 women) had ankylosing spondylitis according to the New York criteria. Eye lesions were noted in 7 of the patients with sacroiliitis, 3 having iritis (15%) and 4 (20%) conjunctivitis. 2 patients with spondylitis had iritis (18%) and 1 (9%) conjunctivitis. It is concluded that inflammatory eye lesions are a frequent accompaniment to psoriatic arthritis. This is taken as further evidence for the concept of the seronegative spondyloarthritides.