Uveitis cases referred to internal Medicine: clinical, etiological and therapeutic characteristics in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

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Résumé

Introduction: Uveitis represents a clinical entity at the intersection of ophthalmology
and internal medicine. Due to its highly heterogeneous presentation and
wide range of etiologies, it poses a real diagnostic challenge. The objective of this
study was to examine cases of uveitis referred to internal medicine departments
in the city of Ouagadougou.
Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive
cross-sectional study conducted from November 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025. The
source population consisted of patients referred to internal medicine for diagnostic
and/or therapeutic management of uveitis in the Yalgado Ouedraogo and
Bogodogo teaching hospitals in the city of Ouagadougou. An exhaustive census
was conducted. Data analysis was performed using EPI Info software. Results:
A total of 31 patients were included during the study period. The average age of
the patients was 37 years ± 15.5 years with a female predominance of 58.1% and
a sex ratio of 0.72. The most common anatomoclinical classifications of uveitis
were panuveitis and anterior uveitis, accounting for 38.7% and 25.8% of cases,
respectively. For the etiological diagnosis, ocular toxoplasmosis was identified
in 58.1% of cases, the etiology was undetermined in 38.7% of patients, and syphilis
was identified in 3.2% of cases. In terms of treatment, systemic corticosteroid
therapy and antibiotic therapy were administered to 61.3% of patients in our
study population.
Conclusion: Uveitis poses a diagnostic challenge for internists.
Infectious causes predominate in our setting, but more than one-third of
uveitis cases referred to internal medicine in our series are of undetermined
etiology. Close collaboration between ophthalmologists and internists remains
essential for better management of uveitis.

Mots-clés

Uveitis - Internal Medicine - Ouagadougou