Diagnosis and Characteristics of Presentation of Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis Syndrome During the COVID-2019 Pandemic

• Published in: Ocular immunology and inflammation Vol. 32; no. 7; pp. 1 - 1358
• Main Authors: Huang, Lingling, Ta Kim, David, Rosenberg, Christopher R, Lin, Phoebe, Suhler, Eric
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 08-08-2024
• Subjects: COVID-19; pediatric uveitis; uveitis; tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome, TINU; diagnosis and treatment
• ISSN: 0927-3948; 1744-5078; 1744-5078
• DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2023.2244077

To compare the diagnosis and clinical features of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (TINU) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retrospective chart review.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2017 to March 2019), 1/561 (0.18%) new patient was diagnosed with TINU. During the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022), 15/581 (2.58%) new patients were diagnosed with TINU. We found a significant increase in TINU cases during the pandemic (P=0.0005). Various posterior segment findings were observed in 2/3 (66.7%) patients before the pandemic and 13/15 (86.7%) patients during the pandemic, including disc edema, chorioretinal scars, disc leakage, and peripheral vascular leakage.
This is the first study reporting an increased number of TINU during the COVID-19 pandemic. With most of the American population now exposed to COVID-19, a large multi-center epidemiological study would be helpful to investigate any association of COVID-19 disease or vaccination with TINU in recent years.