Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and management

Background: Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a severe inflammatory disease of the peripheral cornea that can be caused by local factors or systemic inflammatory disease. Aim: The purpose of this review is to give an overview of the pathophysiology, aetiology, clinical features, diagnosis, a...

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Main Author: Roland Hӧllhumer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2022-01-01
Series:African Vision and Eye Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/697
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author Roland Hӧllhumer
author_facet Roland Hӧllhumer
author_sort Roland Hӧllhumer
collection DOAJ
description Background: Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a severe inflammatory disease of the peripheral cornea that can be caused by local factors or systemic inflammatory disease. Aim: The purpose of this review is to give an overview of the pathophysiology, aetiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of PUK. Method: A PubMed search was conducted using the keywords, ‘peripheral ulcerative keratitis’ and ‘Mooren’s ulcer’. Results: The peripheral cornea has unique characteristics the predispose to the development of PUK. These include fine capillary arcades that allow for deposition of immune complexes and subsequent activation of an inflammatory cascade with corneal melt. Several conditions have been implicated in the aetiology of PUK. The most commonly cited causes are rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and various dermatoses. In patients with RA, PUK usually presents in established disease, whereas in GPA, PUK may be the presenting feature in up to 60% of cases. In RA it heralds the onset of a systemic vasculitis with significant associated morbidity and mortality. The management of PUK follows an individualised stepwise approach. All patients require supportive measures to encourage healing and halt the process of keratolysis. Systemic autoimmune conditions need a systemic corticosteroid as a fast-acting agent to halt the inflammatory process while cytotoxic therapy maintains long term disease control. Failure to achieve disease control with CTT, necessitates the use of a biologic agent. Conclusion: Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is a severe inflammatory disease of the peripheral cornea that needs a thorough diagnostic workup and stepwise management approach.
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spelling doaj.art-0f45fc5679914a7cbbafac7ca2d53cb72022-12-21T20:09:12ZengAOSISAfrican Vision and Eye Health2413-31832410-15162022-01-01811e1e1110.4102/aveh.v81i1.697490Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and managementRoland Hӧllhumer0Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Ophthalmology, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgBackground: Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a severe inflammatory disease of the peripheral cornea that can be caused by local factors or systemic inflammatory disease. Aim: The purpose of this review is to give an overview of the pathophysiology, aetiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of PUK. Method: A PubMed search was conducted using the keywords, ‘peripheral ulcerative keratitis’ and ‘Mooren’s ulcer’. Results: The peripheral cornea has unique characteristics the predispose to the development of PUK. These include fine capillary arcades that allow for deposition of immune complexes and subsequent activation of an inflammatory cascade with corneal melt. Several conditions have been implicated in the aetiology of PUK. The most commonly cited causes are rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and various dermatoses. In patients with RA, PUK usually presents in established disease, whereas in GPA, PUK may be the presenting feature in up to 60% of cases. In RA it heralds the onset of a systemic vasculitis with significant associated morbidity and mortality. The management of PUK follows an individualised stepwise approach. All patients require supportive measures to encourage healing and halt the process of keratolysis. Systemic autoimmune conditions need a systemic corticosteroid as a fast-acting agent to halt the inflammatory process while cytotoxic therapy maintains long term disease control. Failure to achieve disease control with CTT, necessitates the use of a biologic agent. Conclusion: Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is a severe inflammatory disease of the peripheral cornea that needs a thorough diagnostic workup and stepwise management approach.https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/697peripheral ulcerative keratitisimmunosuppressioncytotoxic therapybiologic therapyrheumatoid arthritisgranulomatosis with polyangiitis
spellingShingle Roland Hӧllhumer
Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and management
African Vision and Eye Health
peripheral ulcerative keratitis
immunosuppression
cytotoxic therapy
biologic therapy
rheumatoid arthritis
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
title Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and management
title_full Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and management
title_fullStr Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and management
title_full_unstemmed Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and management
title_short Peripheral ulcerative keratitis: A review of aetiology and management
title_sort peripheral ulcerative keratitis a review of aetiology and management
topic peripheral ulcerative keratitis
immunosuppression
cytotoxic therapy
biologic therapy
rheumatoid arthritis
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
url https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/697
work_keys_str_mv AT rolandhöllhumer peripheralulcerativekeratitisareviewofaetiologyandmanagement