Lockdown effects on a patient receiving immunosuppression for unilateral HLA- B27 associated uveitis during COVID-19 pandemic

Initial anterior uveitis event associated with recent novel SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection in the setting of HLA-B27

“… 6 A more recent publication by Sanjay et al, in 2021 reported a 35-year-old male with a known history of HLA-B27 associated anterior uveitis, who presented with an iritis flare following SARS-CoV-2 infection after stopping his immunosuppressive therapy. 7 This case contrasts our case as their patient was already known to have HLA-B27, though the timeline of infection and onset of symptoms mirrors our patient. 7 …”

“… 4 , 5 Despite the alarming number of COVID-19 positive tests, anterior uveitis has been sparsely reported in literature following recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. 6 , 7 , 8 We describe a case of an adult patient presenting with anterior uveitis temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”

Comment on: COVID-19 vaccine-associated reactivation of uveitis

“…We would like to share two instances that are related to the present case report. [ 2 3 ] Our patient, who had unilateral granulomatous uveitis and intermediate uveitis, had a relapse of his anterior uveitis after coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). In this instance, the possible role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) would have been a trigger.…”

“…Second, another patient who had HLA-B27-related anterior uveitis who stopped his immunosuppression and adalimumab during lockdown of 8 weeks[ 3 4 ] had developed COVID-19 albeit with mild symptoms; however, he developed recurrence of unilateral non-granulomatous anterior uveitis 3 weeks later. It is possible that there might have been a recurrence due to cessation of his immunosuppression during the lockdown.…”

“…We cannot rule out the possibility of either COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccination acting as a trigger for new-onset ocular inflammation in our reported cases or the present case report. [ 2 3 11 12 ]…”