Smoking does not protect patients with axial spondyloarthritis from attacks of uveitis

Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) is the the most common extra-axial manifestation in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and can lead to visual impairment if untreated. Cross-sectional axSpA studies have consistently reported lower odds of AAU in current smokers than ex or never smokers,1 2 which is in contrast to higher AAU risk among smokers in the general population.3 One explanation for this apparent paradox is behaviour change; those with AAU may...