A cross-sectional study of systemic disorders in patients with episcleritis and scleritis

Introduction

Episcleritis and scleritis are a group of inflammatory disorders with varied etiology that affect the outer layers of the eyeball namely episclera and sclera respectively. These disorders are commonly encountered in an ophthalmology outpatient department. Though a few of them may run a benign course, others cause significant ocular morbidity. A rising concern is that a proportion of patients with episcleritis and scleritis have an underlying systemic disorder precipitating them. This has been evident by the fact that over the past few decades, a number of connective tissue disorders, autoimmune disorders and infective conditions have been proven to be associated with scleritis and episcleritis. Hence, it has become mandatory to identify such associated disorders and treat them for an overall favorable outcome for the patient. A thorough clinical examination and a battery of laboratory tests are needed to identify them. Previous studies revealed the prevalence rate of systemic disease in patients with episcleritis /scleritis to be around 20 to 40 percent.^[1], ^[2], ^[3] The disease pattern is also found to be more common among females and among the middle age group. Moreover scleritis has been proven to have more chance of being associated with a systemic illness.

Infectious diseases like Tuberculosis, Syphilis, viral agents like Herpes and many idiopathic and autoimmune disorders like Rheumatoid Arthritis,^[4] Inflammatory bowel disease,^[5] Sarcoidosis,^[6] Systemic lupus erythematosus^[7] etc., have been associated with scleritis and episcleritis. Topical and oral NSAIDS, Corticosteroids and Immunomodulators^[8] have been used to treat episcleritis and scleritis.^[9] In some cases such as necrotizing scleritis, intensive therapy has to be given in order to reduce ocular morbidity. Thus, it is essential for every ophthalmologist to be vigilant to search for a systemic association whenever a patient has been diagnosed with scleritis or episcleritis. Appropriate investigation and specialist referral should be done based on the clinical scenario of the patient.

Materials and Methods

This is a cross-sectional study done on 105 patients at the Department of Ophthalmology, Government Raja Mirasudar hospital, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur during the period January 2020 to May 2021.

Results

The study was conducted among 105 patients clinically diagnosed with scleritis and episcleritis.

Discussion

In our study, the highest incidence of episcleritis and scleritis was found in middle age group (61.9%) followed by young age group (22.8%) and then old age group (15.2%)([Table 1]). Females were more commonly affected (59%) and males contributed to 41% of cases ([Table 2]). The prevalence of episcleritis (86.6%) was more compared to scleritis (13.3%). Among the subtypes diffuse episcleritis was the most common type (58.1%) followed by nodular episcleritis (28.6%). Anterior and posterior scleritis contributed to 9.5% and 3.8% of cases respectively ([Table 3]). Unilateral involvement of eye was most commonly seen (78.1%) and bilateral involvement of eyes was less commonly seen (21.9%).

Systemic association of a precipitating disease was noted in 20% of cases and the remaining 80% of cases had no association of an underlying precipitating systemic illness. Tuberculosis was a major precipitating disorder associated with scleritis and episcleritis ([Table 4]). This is evident by the fact tuberculosis is endemic and common in our country. Rheumatoid arthritis was identified in 3 patients. Yang P et al^[10] al in their study published in 2016 showed rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis to be an important association in scleritis patients. Systemic lupus erythematosus and syphilis were each noted in two patients. Heron E et al^[2] published in French journal of ophthalmology in 2017 and revealed systemic autoimmune diseases to be an important association of scleritis and episcleritis. Wilhelmus et al^[11] revealed the association of syphilis with episcleritis and scleritis. Ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, sarcoidosis, herpes zoster and Wegener granulomatosis were noted in one patient each ([Table 4]). Bacchiega et al 2017^[12] found that ankylosing spondylitis and sarcoidosis were associated with various ocular inflammatory conditions including scleritis, episcleritis and uveitis. Troncoso et al^[5] found scleritis and episcleritis to be important ocular manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.

The middle age group comprising ages between 13 and 60 had the maximum number of systemic disease association (90.4%) followed by young and old age groups each contributing to 4.8% each. Among those cases where a systemic disease association was identified, female patients contributed to 71.4% of cases and male patients contributed to 28.6% of cases. This shows that systemic disease association was more common among female patients compared to male patients. This also correlates with the fact that most of the auoimmune and connective tissue disorders are more common in females.

The systemic disorder noted in episcleritis patients had infective etiology in 83.3% of patients and non infective etiology was observed in 16.7% of patients. In scleritis, the precipitating systemic disorder had infective etiology in 22.2% of cases and non infective etiology was observed in 77.8% of patients. This shows that the precipitating systemic illness in episcleritis patients had predominantly infective origin and in scleritis patients it had predominantly non infective origin like autoimmune and connective tissue pathology. Scleritis patients had more incidence of precipitating systemic illness (64.3%) than episcleritis (13.2%) ([Table 5]). So it becomes very essential to search for a systemic cause in scleritis patients.

As previously described above, ocular features can be the first manifestation of a systemic disease. Ocular features was the first manifestation in 1 case of sarcoidosis and 4 cases of tuberculosis. 33.3% of episcleritis patients and 11.1% of scleritis patients had ocular features as the presenting complaint of their systemic disease. Hence, prompt recognition helped to reduce systemic and ocular morbidity.

Conclusions

Scleritis and episcleritis are common conditions encountered in an ophthalmology out patient department. Their frequent association with an underlying systemic disorder prompts us to assess the systemic status of such patients. Early diagnosis and proper management of such disorders has helped to reduce both systemic and ocular morbidity.

The most vulnerable group are the female population of middle age. A meticulous history taking, clinical examination and investigations help us to identify the associated underlying systemic disorder. Wherever needed, referral to other medical and surgical specialities are done and the control of the systemic disorder often reduces the ocular morbidity. Since ocular features can be the presenting feature of certain systemic disorders, our timely diagnosis can improve the overall outcome.

Limitations

Long term followup up was not included in the study

Follow up of few patients were lost due to the COVID pandemic and travel restrictions and hence the targeted sample size could not be achieved.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.