Association between advanced glycation end products and uveitis/scleritis activity in patients with active immune-mediated ocular inflammatory diseases

TL;DR

This study explores the link between skin autofluorescence and uveitis/scleritis activity in patients with immune-related eye inflammation.

Contribution

The study investigates advanced glycation end products as potential biomarkers for uveitis/scleritis activity.

Findings

No significant difference in SAF AGE levels between patients and controls.

Lower SAF AGE levels were significantly associated with active ocular inflammation.

SAF AGE levels were not found to be a reliable biomarker for uveitis/scleritis activity.

Abstract

To investigate for association between skin autofluorescence (SAF) advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and uveitis/scleritis activity in systemic inflammatory disease-related active non-infectious uveitis/scleritis patients.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at Siriraj Hospital during October 2019 to March 2020. AGEs were measured by SAF method in systemic immune-related disease patients with active uveitis/scleritis, and those results were compared with those of healthy age-matched controls.

Thirty-one active non-infectious uveitis/scleritis patients and 31 age-matched controls were enrolled. The mean age of patients was 40.0 ± 12.8 years, and most were female (55.0%). The most common associated systemic immune-related disease was Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease (n = 14). Mean SAF AGE level in the study group compared to the control group was 2.38 ± 0.66 arbitrary units (AU) versus 2.58 ± 0.56 AU, respectively (p = 0.20). Multivariate analysis showed decreased SAF AGE level to be significantly associated with active ocular inflammation, (odds ratio: 0.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.00004–0.81; p = 0.04).

SAF AGE level was not so far found to be a reliable biomarker for indicating uveitis/scleritis activity in systemic immune-related disease patients with active ocular inflammation.

Thai Clinical Trials Registry, https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/. (Reg. No. TCTR20200114004, registered date 01/01/2020, beginning date of the trial 10/01/2019).

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