Relationship between uveitis and menstruation

Purpose: To report the influence of menstruation on the onset and severity of uveitis. Cases and Method: This study was made on 54 women who were attending our uveitis clinic. The age ranged from 12 to 51 years, average 31 years. The series comprised ocular sarcoidosis 8 cases, Vbgt-Koyanagi-Harada disease 8 cases, Behcet disease 7 cases, idiopathic uveitis 26 cases, and others 5 cases. They were asked if and how subjective findings of uveitis depended on the menstrual cycle. Results: Nine patients (17%) responded that subjective findings of uveitis depended on menstruation. Eight of them thought that uveitis exacerbated just before or during menstruation. Eight of 54 women had a history of pregnancy after onset of uveitis. Five women gave birth. All of them thought that uveitis exacerbated just after delivery. Conclusion: Onset or severity of uveitis in women may be dependent on the menstrual cycle. Changes in female hormones may be involved in this phenomenon.