Progression rates, defined by worsening of either Mondino or Foster clinical staging of MMP, in the presence or absence of clinically detectable conjunctival inflammation are shown in the upper composite Panel A. Note there was no significant difference in progression between eyes with clinically detectable inflammation or those that were seemingly uninflamed (Fishers exact test).
The percentage of patients requiring immunosuppression at presentation, following the first follow up (FU) clinic visit, 12 months and 24 months follow-up time points are shown in the lower panels B and C. Immunosuppression strategies were ranked according to the hierarchy described by Rauz et al (Ophthalmology 2005). Overall, a significant initiation or escalation in ‘strategic-step’ was required at the first FU visit (Panel B; McNemar’s test), but this did not significantly differ when the Early Onset (EoD) and Established Disease (EstD) groups were compared (Panel C; Kendal’s tau b). By 12 months follow-up, five patients stabilised on immunosuppression and were discharged back to their originating hospitals, and similarly a further 10 between the 12 and 24 months follow-up.