Painful Acute Corneal Ulceration and Anterior Stromal Keratitis in an Adolescent With Reactive Arthritis

• Published in: Journal of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus Vol. 53; no. 6; pp. e61 - e63
• Main Authors: Lyons, Christopher J, AlQahtani, Elham, Tsang, Hughie, Moloney, Gregory T, Gardiner, Jane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SLACK INCORPORATED 08-12-2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Arthritis; Arthritis, Reactive - complications; Arthritis, Reactive - diagnosis; Cornea; Corneal Stroma - diagnostic imaging; Corneal Ulcer - complications; Corneal Ulcer - diagnosis; Corneal Ulcer - drug therapy; Diagnosis, Differential; Eye diseases; Eye Pain - diagnosis; Eye Pain - drug therapy; Eye Pain - etiology; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Humans; Keratitis - complications; Keratitis - diagnosis; Keratitis - drug therapy; Male; Ophthalmic Solutions; Ophthalmology; Prednisolone - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0191-3913; 1938-2405
• DOI: 10.3928/01913913-20161027-01

Reactive arthritis is occasionally associated with conjunctivitis and uveitis, but rarely keratitis. The authors describe a patient with paracentral anterior stromal keratitis with overlying epithelial erosion and multiple satellite subepithelial infiltrates. The initial appearance and the severe pain were suggestive of an infectious process. Recovery was rapid following introduction of topical steroid, with features suggesting an immune process in the recovery phase. The authors suggest that a history of arthritis and/or recent enteritis should be sought in the work-up of an atypical keratitis with or without epithelial defect. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2016;53:e61-e63.].