Objective: Here, we report three cases of AS that were diagnosed after the patients developed AAU. Methods: A case series illustrated AAU leading to the diagnosis of AS years after the initial episode of low back pain. A comparison of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and outcomes was also illustrated.

Result: We report three cases of acute anterior uveitis (AAU)-associated AS diagnosed only after many visits to the primary health care provider with the complaint of chronic low back pain. All three patients had irreversible radiological changes upon diagnosis of AS. The AAU resolved with topical steroids, and one patient developed cataract.

METHODS: Five electronic databases were searched for studies involving tocilizumab, dexamethasone, and methylprednisolone in treating COVID-19. We included case-control and randomized or partially randomized trials. Meta-regression for patient baseline characteristics, co-medications, and tocilizumab dose regimens was performed to identify contributing factors to drug efficacy.

RESULTS: Thirteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and twenty-four case-control studies were included in our meta-analysis involving 18,702 patients. Meta-analysis among the RCTs showed that a summary estimate favoring mortality reduction (OR 0.71, 95%CI 0.55 - 0.92) contributed mainly by tocilizumab and dexamethasone. Among case-control studies, meta-analysis showed mortality reduction (OR 0.52, 95%CI 0.36 - 0.75) contributed by tocilizumab and tocilizumab-methylprednisolone combination. Methylprednisolone alone did not reduce mortality except for one study involving high dose pulse therapy. Meta-analysis also found that all three drugs did not significantly reduce mechanical ventilation (OR 0.72, 95%CI 0.32 - 1.60).