Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is inflammation and ulceration of the cornea that often occurs with chronic connective tissue diseases. Irritation and decreased vision result.
Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is a serious corneal ulceration; it often occurs with autoimmune connective tissue diseases that are active, long-standing, or both, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly called Wegener granulomatosis), and relapsing polychondritis.
DR M.A. ANSARY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Among patients with autoimmune connective tissue disease and peripheral ulcerative keratitis, the 10-year mortality rate is about 40% (usually due to myocardial infarction) without treatment and about 8% with systemic cytotoxic therapy.
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