Ocular manifestations of patients with circulating antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies

J. S. Pulido, J. A. Goeken, J. A. Nerad, W. M. Sobol and R. Folberg
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City 52242.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are seen in patients with systemic vasculitides, especially Wegener's granulomatosis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are helpful laboratory markers for these disease. We report on the ocular findings of six patients with systemic vasculitis who had antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Four patients had systemic Wegener's granulomatosis, one had microscopic polyarteritis, and in one a specific histopathologic diagnosis could not be made. Two patients were first evaluated for systemic vasculitis because of their ocular manifestations. Ocular findings included ptosis, bilateral lacrimal gland masses, proptosis, choroidal folds, episcleritis, phlebitis, retinal and vitreous hemorrhage, keratitis sicca, and bilateral central scotomas. It was difficult to make a systemic diagnosis in all cases. If systemic vasculitis is in the differential diagnosis of a patient with suggestive ocular findings, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody testing should be considered. A prospective study of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody testing should be considered in patients with ocular findings that suggest the possibility of vasculitis.