The challenge of ocular inflammation in systemic vasculitis: How to address inequalities of care?

Abstract

The systemic vasculitides cause considerable morbidity, not least by their potential to affect so many organs. In major referral centres, they are managed optimally, by multidisciplinary teams comprising specialists in the individual organ systems involved, working together to provide a holistic approach and the optimal environment to assess disease activity and deliver optimal therapy. For example, the National Centre for Behçet’s syndrome (BS) in Liverpool UK[1] brings together clinicians from disparate disciplines to provide patient-centred state-of-the-art care for this form of vasculitis. Unfortunately, in many countries, access to diagnostic techniques and appropriately experienced specialists in systemic vasculitis can be difficult. In this article, we will highlight the challenges of detecting and managing systemic vasculitis in the eye and consider how advances in “oculomics” and artificial intelligence (AI) may enhance the management of this major complication and help address the current inequalities of care. We will focus on ocular disease in BS, where early diagnosis and prompt treatment can be sight-preserving.