Pattern of Childhood-Onset Uveitis in a Referral Center in Tunisia,North Africa

Purpose: To analyze the pattern of childhood uveitis in a referral center in Tunisia, North Africa. Methods:The study included 64 patients with uveitis examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of Monastir (Tunisia) from January 1994 to July 2005. All patients had a comprehensive ocular and systemic history, including an extensive review of medical systems. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed in all cases, including best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, and dilated fundus examination with 3-mirror lens. Standard diagnostic criteria were employed for all syndromes or entities of uveitis. Results: The mean age at onset of uveitis was 12.4 years. The male-to-female ratio was 0.68. The process was unilateral in 51.6% of patients. Mean follow-up was 43.2 months. Anterior and intermediate uveitis each represented 31.25% of cases, posterior uveitis 20.3%, and panuveitis 17.2%. Noninfectious uveitis (75%) was the most frequent type of inflammation. Idiopathic uveitis was found in 50% of patients. Infectious uveitis was responsible for 25% of the cases, with toxoplasmosis (14.1%) being the most frequent cause. Twenty percent of the patients had systemic associations; juvenile idiopathic arthritis was found in 6.25%. Ocular complications occurred in 74.7% of affected eyes, of which the most common were posterior synechiae (28.4%), cataract (17.9%), cystoid macular edema (19%), and optic disc edema (32.6%). Fifty-seven affected eyes (60%) had a final visual acuity more than 20/40 and nine (9.5%) had a final visual acuity less than 20/200. Conclusions: In a hospital population in Tunisia, a specific cause of uveitis in children was found in half the patients. Idiopathic intermediate uveitis was the leading cause of uveitis in our study, followed by idiopathic anterior uveitis and toxoplasmosis. Uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis was rare. Visual prognosis appeared to be good.     

Pattern of uveitis in a referral centre in Tunisia, North Africa

AIM: To analyse the pattern of uveitis in a referral centre in Tunisia, North Africa. METHODS: The study included 472 patients with uveitis examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of Monastir (Tunisia) from January 1992 to August 2003. All patients had a comprehensive ocular and systemic history, including an extensive review of medical systems. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed in all cases, including best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, and dilated fundus examination with three-mirror lens. Standard diagnostic criteria were employed for all syndromes or entities of uveitis. RESULTS: The mean age at onset of uveitis was 34 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.1. Uveitis was unilateral in 282 patients (59.7%) and bilateral in 190 patients (40.3%). Anterior uveitis was most common (166 patients; 35.2%), followed by posterior uveitis (133 patients; 28.2%), panuveitis (100 patients; 21.2%), and intermediate uveitis (73 patients; 15.5%). A specific diagnosis was found in 306 patients (64.8%). The most common cause of anterior uveitis was herpetic uveitis (56 patients; 33.7%). Toxoplasmosis was the most frequent cause of posterior uveitis (51 patients; 38.3%). Intermediate uveitis was most commonly idiopathic (63 patients; 86.3%). Beh?et's disease was the most common cause of panuveitis (36 patients; 36%), followed by Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease (15 patients; 15%). A total of 16 patients (3.4%) suffered from blindness, and 59 (12.5%) from uniocular blindness. CONCLUSIONS: In a hospital population in Tunisia, the most common causes of uveitis were Beh?et's disease, herpes simplex infection, toxoplasmosis, and VKH disease.     

Assessment of the ocular changes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

PURPOSE: To analyse the frequency of uveitis and other ocular changes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out ophthalmologic examination in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, in age between 3 and 20 years. During the examination we evaluated vision acuity, refraction, anterior and posterior part of the eye and intraocular pressure. RESULTS: A total of 48 (68%) girls and 22 (32%) boys participated in our study, whose mean age was 13.2 years (SD = 3.8). The most frequent onset of juvenile idiopathic arthritis was oligoarticular form of the disease (62%). Only in 42% of the studied group there were no significant abnormalities of the ocular system. Anterior uveitis was diagnosed in 5 patients (7%) including 4 (5.7%) girls and 1 (1.4%) boy. Complications appeared in 2 children in the form of cataract and band keratopathy which both resulted in considerable impairment of visual acuity. Mean duration of juvenile idiopathic arthritis before the onset of uveitis was 5.2 years. There were other ocular changes in the studied group, among which the most common were: conjunctivitis--24%, abnormalities of the retina--11%, glaucoma--4% and other changes. CONCLUSIONS: In majority of the children with juvenile chronic arthritis different abnormalities of the eyes were diagnosed. All the patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis should be under close surveillance of the ophthalmologist, irrespective of the disease duration.     

Demographic and Clinical Features of Pediatric Uveitis in Israel

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report the epidemiology, etiology, ocular characteristics, treatment and visual outcome of pediatric uveitis in Israel.

Methods: Retrospective study from two tertiary uveitis centers.

Results: Included were 107 patients (182 eyes), 55% females. Mean age at diagnosis 8.8 years. Uveitis was predominantly anterior, idiopathic, bilateral, and chronic. Systemic associations were seen in 36% of patients of which the most common disease was juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Infectious uveitis accounted for 37% of posterior uveitis cases of which toxoplasmosis was the most common cause. Anterior segment complications were commonly observed at presentation (41%); the most predominant were posterior synechiae, cataract, and band keratopathy. The most common posterior segment complications were papillitis, epiretinal membrane, and macular atrophy/scar. Ninety-three percent of eyes had visual acuity >20/40 at last follow-up.

Conclusion: The pattern of pediatric uveitis in Israel is similar to that in the western world. Visual outcome was good in most eyes.     

Intravitreal triamcinolone for the treatment of refractory macular edema in idiopathic intermediate or posterior uveitis

PURPOSE. Cystoid macular edema (CME) is the most significant cause of visual loss associated with idiopathic uveitis. The authors report on the use of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in a group of patients with macular edema due to idiopathic intermediate and posterior uveitis. METHODS. Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Thirty-three eyes were included with uveitic CME that was refractory to topical steroids, oral prednisone, or a combination thereof. Previous steroid treatment did not result in elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). The eyes received an intravitreal injection with 10 mg triamcinolone acetonide, after best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and fluorescein angiography (FA) were assessed. Ophthalmologic examination including FA was regularly performed during a 1-year follow-up period. RESULTS. Within 12 weeks after injection of IVTA, 50% of the eyes responded with an improvement in vision of more than two lines and 30% of the eyes reached an IOP of >/= 21 mmHg (p<0.01). All eyes with an elevated IOP responded well on topical antiglaucoma medication. After 12 months follow-up 40% of the eyes responded with an improvement in vision of more than two lines and 28% of the affected eyes underwent phacoemulsification during the follow-up. No other complications occurred within a year after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS. In macular edema due to idiopathic intermediate or posterior uveitis IVTA improves the visual acuity within the first 3 months. However, thereafter the visual acuity decreases again. Cataract and elevated IOP are common side effects.     

Retinal Complications of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-related Uveitis: A Microperimetry and Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Purpose: To evaluate ocular complications of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-related uveitis; to study macular morphology and sensitivity.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of 67 patients. Fourteen consecutive patients (24 eyes) observed from January to December 2008 were submitted to optical coherence tomography study (OCT) and microperimetry MP-1 examination.

Results: Most frequent complications were posterior synechiae (63.0%), band keratopathy (53.9%), and cataract (31.8%). Posterior complications were documented in 37.0% of eyes: 13.8% macular edema, 12.0% papillitis, 6.8% epiretinal membranes, 2.5% retinal vasculitis, 1.7% retinal detachment. At OCT examination 25.0% of eyes presented macular edema; macular sensitivity by MP-1 was ≤16.5 dB in 25.0% of eyes.

Conclusions: Visual prognosis is good despite ocular complications. Incidence of macular edema seems to be higher when using OCT. Microperimetry may represent a useful tool in detecting alteration in retinal sensitivity that may supplement visual acuity in the follow-up of macular edema.     

Biological response modifier therapy for refractory childhood uveitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of biological response modifiers (BRM) in the treatment of refractory childhood uveitis. DESIGN: Retrospective non-comparative case series of pediatric patients with uveitis treated with BRM. PARTICIPANTS: 23 pediatric patients. METHODS: All children (18 years or younger) who received a BRM were assessed for visual changes, time to control inflammation, and any associated adverse side effects. Thirteen patients were treated with infliximab, five with adalimumab, and five with daclizumab. All patients had bilateral eye involvement. Diagnoses of the participants included juvenile idiopathic arthritis, keratouveitis, sarcoid panuveitis, Adamantiades-Behcets disease, and idiopathic panuveitis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inflammation and visual acuity. RESULTS: In the infliximab group 16 of 26 eyes (62%), and 10 of 13 patients (77%) demonstrated an improvement in visual acuity. Twenty of 26 eyes (77%) demonstrated an improvement in the degree of inflammation. In the adalimumab group, four of 10 eyes (40%) demonstrated an improvement in visual acuity, with five of 10 eyes (50%) demonstrating an improvement in inflammation. Four of 10 eyes (40%) in the daclizumab group demonstrated an improvement in vision with eight of 10 eyes (80%) demonstrating an improvement in inflammation. CONCLUSION: BRM appear to be safe to use in children, and represent a useful therapeutic adjunctive drug group for treating recalcitrant childhood uveitis.     

102例少年儿童葡萄膜炎临床分析

目的 观察分析少年儿童葡萄膜炎的病程、病因及并发症.方法 回顾分析102例少年儿童葡萄膜炎患者的临床资料.患儿年龄2.5～16.0岁,平均年龄11.9岁.均进行常规视力、裂隙灯显微镜、检眼镜检查以及相关实验室检查.根据国际葡萄膜炎研究组制定的根据解削位置分类的标准对疾病进行诊断、分类.回顾分析时,对患者发病眼别、复发情况、炎症部位、病因、并发症等临床资料进行归纳比较.结果 102例葡萄膜炎患儿共170只眼受累,双眼受累68例,占66.6%.前葡萄膜炎38例,占37.3%;中间葡萄膜炎19例,占18.6%;后葡萄膜炎10例,占9.8%;全葡萄膜炎35例,占34.3%.发病至就诊时间为5 d～2.4年,平均发病时间3.6个月,治疗及随访时间为2周～10余年.病因前3位为幼年慢性关节炎、Vogt-Koyanagi Harada综合征、Behcet病.36例患儿发生并发症,包括并发性白内障19例,继发性青光眼7例,角膜带状变性5例,虹膜前后粘连12例,继发性视网膜脱离1例,眼球萎缩2例.因幼年慢性关节炎全身和局部使用糖皮质激素出现双侧股骨头坏死而行双髋关节置换1例.有10例患儿出现2种以上并发症.结论 少年儿童葡萄膜炎病因复杂多样,症状多不典型,疾病过程迁延慢长,易出现并发症导致盲目产生.     

Cataract in uveitis patients: extracapsular and intraocular posterior implantation results. A retrospective study of 14 eyes

PURPOSE: Checking visual results and progression after cataract surgery in uveitis patients. METHODS: Fourteen eyes of 13 patients were retrospectively studied after cataract extraction from December 1993 to April 1997. We describe the surgical procedure followed by the visual outcome of cataract surgery, complications, and treatment. RESULTS: Specific uveitic syndromes were determined in eight patients. Fuchs' heterochromic iridocyclitis was the cause in three cases, ankylosing spondylitis in one case, sarcoidosis in two cases, toxoplasmosis in one case and Birdshot chorioretinopathy in one case. Phacoemulsification was performed in 10 eyes and a manual extracapsular procedure in four eyes. Posterior chamber implantation was performed in 13 cases. Final visual acuity improved in 64% cases, from 1 to 8 lines (average 3.5). Eight eyes had visual acuity worse than 5/10, attributed to posterior segment abnormalities, in particular macular edema, which is the main limiting factor of optimal visual recovery. Capsular opacification was the most frequent complication in the anterior segment. Endophthalmitis was described in one patient. CONCLUSION: Visual results of cataract surgery depend on different uveitic entities and on posterior segment abnormalities. Results are generally successful when uveitis is not severe and the posterior segment can be carefully observed after cataract surgery. Extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber implantation seem to be well tolerated if inflammation is perfectly under control before surgery.     

Clinical course and outcome of uveitis in children.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the clinical course, complications, and visual outcome of pediatric uveitis. METHODS: Our sample included 38 consecutive children with uveitis treated between 1986 and 2002: 15 with idiopathic uveitis, 10 with Behcet disease, 9 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, 4 with other diagnoses. The last group was excluded from the analysis because of its small size. Appropriate ophthalmologic and laboratory examinations were obtained. Treatment consisted of topical, periocular, or systemic steroids with or without immunosuppression. RESULTS: Complications occurred in all 3 groups, although they tended to be more severe in the patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Visual acuity improved from presentation to final examination; the difference was statistically significant for the patients with idiopathic uveitis (P < 0.0005) and Behcet disease (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support an intensive treatment approach to childhood uveitis. The visual prognosis is good even in patients with a severe clinical course.     

Risk factors for ocular complications and poor visual acuity at presentation among patients with uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

PURPOSE: To describe the frequencies of and risk factors for ocular complications and poor visual acuity at presentation in a cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: setting: Single-center, academic practice. study population: Seventy-five patients with JIA-associated uveitis were evaluated between July 1984 and August 2005. observation procedures: Data on patients diagnosed with JIA-associated uveitis were entered retrospectively into a database and analyzed. outcome measures: Visual acuity of 20/50 or worse or 20/200 or worse, and presence of ocular complications (including cataract, posterior synechiae, band keratopathy, elevated intraocular pressure, hypotony, macular edema, and epiretinal membrane) at presentation. RESULTS: At presentation, ocular complications were seen in 67% of eyes affected by JIA-associated uveitis. Presence of > or =1+ anterior chamber flare, a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), and a shorter duration between the diagnosis of arthritis and uveitis were significantly associated with the presence of ocular complication. The frequencies of 20/50 or worse and of 20/200 or worse visual acuities at presentation in affected eyes were 36% and 24%, respectively. The presence of > or =1+ anterior chamber flare and a history of intraocular surgery before presentation were significantly associated with 20/50 or worse and 20/200 or worse vision. Presence of posterior synechiae also was associated with 20/200 or worse vision at presentation. The main causes of poor vision at presentation for affected eyes and better-seeing eyes were cataract, band keratopathy within the visual axis, and glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular complications and poor vision at presentation were common in our patients with JIA-related uveitis.     

Pattern of uveitis in Behçet’s disease in a referral center in Tunisia,North Africa

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pattern of uveitis in Behçet’s disease in Tunisia, North Africa. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 62 patients (111 eyes) diagnosed with Behçet’s uveitis (BU) at the Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia, between January 1995 and December 2006. Forty-seven of 62 patients (75.8%) were men and 15 (24.2%) were women. Mean age at onset was 29.3 years. The average follow-up was 75.6 months. The most common extraocular clinical manifestations were recurrent oral ulcer in all patients and pseudofolliculitis in 52 patients (83.9%). Uveitis was bilateral in 79%. Initial best-corrected visual acuity was ≥20/40 in 41 affected eyes (36.9%) and <20/200 in 49 affected eyes (44.2%). Panuveitis (68 eyes, 61.3%) and posterior uveitis (38 eyes, 34.2%) were the most common forms, followed by anterior uveitis (five eyes, 4.5%). Retinal vasculitis was found in 89 eyes (80.2%). Most common complications included posterior synechiae (32.4%), cataract (31.5%), and cystoid macular edema (19.8%). Systemic corticosteroids were administered in 58 patients (93.5%). Immunosuppressive drugs were used in 22 patients (35.5%). Fifty-six affected eyes (50.5%) had final visual acuity ≥20/40 and 34 affected eyes (30.6%) had final visual acuity <20/200. In Tunisia, BU affects predominantly young men. Bilateral panuveitis associated with retinal vasculitis was the most common ocular manifestation. More than 50% of patients maintained a visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and immunosuppressive therapy probably contributed to the improvement of visual prognosis of these patients.     

Outcomes of treatment with immunomodulatory therapy in patients with corticosteroid-resistant juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated chronic iridocyclitis

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical outcome of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (IA)-associated chronic iridocyclitis unresponsive to conventional therapy, in whom inflammation was eventually controlled using immunomodulatory therapy (IMT), and to determine if patients treated early with IMT have better visual acuity outcomes than those treated with corticosteroid alone. METHODS: Patients with JIA-associated chronic iridocyclitis receiving immunomodulatory therapy at the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary between 1981 and 2001 were studied. Inclusion criteria: JIA with chronic corticosteroid-dependent uveitis; IMT for a minimum of one year; minimum follow-up of three years; inflammation eventually controlled for a minimum of six consecutive months by IMT. RESULTS: At last visit, 51% of eyes (23 eyes) had acuity of 20/20 to 20/40, 16% (7 eyes) had 20/50 to 20/100, and 33% (15 eyes) had 20/200 or less. In patients whose chronic inflammation was eventually controlled within three years from onset of the uveitis, final bilateral vision was maintained within 20/20 to 20/30, except for a patient whose one eye had poor vision at initial consultation. When acuities at the end of the follow-up period of patients treated early with IMT were compared with acuities at the initial consultation of patients treated late with IMT, with duration of uveitis matched for each patient, visual acuities of those treated early were statistically significantly better than those treated late with IMT (p < 0.005 right and left eyes pooled; p = 0.0075 best eyes; p = 0.0375 worst eyes). CONCLUSIONS: We noted improvement or maintenance of visual acuity (86%) during the course of follow-up of patients with treatment-resistant JIA-associated uveitis treated with effective IMT. However, only IMT given early in the disease course was noted to be associated with bilateral visual acuity of 20/30 or better.     

Combined Phacoemulsification,Primary Intraocular Lens Implantation,and Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Children with Uveitis

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of combined cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in children with uveitis.

Methods: Data regarding visual acuity (VA), inflammatory status, medical therapy, and complications was collected from the medical charts of 17 children (21 eyes) with chronic uveitis who underwent combined cataract surgery and PPV at the Eye Clinic, Sahlgrenska/Mölndal, between 2002 and 2011.

Results: Seventy-six percent of the children had juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Median preoperative VA was 1.70 logMAR and median VA after 12 months was 0.17 logMAR. Postoperatively, glaucoma developed in 7 eyes, cystoid macular edema in 3 eyes, and visual axis opacification requiring treatment in 5 eyes.

Conclusions: Although combined phacoemulsification, primary IOL implantation, and PPV in children with uveitis resulted in favorable visual outcome and stable inflammation in a majority of children, the technique should so far be reserved for uveitic cases with vitreous pathology.     

Causes and frequency of blindness in patients with intraocular inflammatory disease.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Uveitis, an intraocular inflammatory disease, is a significant cause of visual impairment. It is not known how many patients with uveitis will retain visual acuity and how many develop visual impairment or even blindness. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of blindness in patients with uveitis and, more specifically, to identify the clinical profile of patients at risk for visual loss. METHODS: A cross sectional and retrospective study of 582 patients with uveitis who visited the ophthalmology departments of two university hospitals in the Netherlands was performed. RESULTS: Within the group of 582 patients, 203 (35%) exhibited blindness or visual impairment; bilateral legal blindness developed in 22 (4%) patients, 26 (4.5%) had one blind eye with visual impairment of the other, and nine (1.5%) had bilateral visual impairment. Unilateral blindness developed in 82 (14%) patients, whereas 64 (11%) exhibited unilateral visual impairment. The most important cause of both blindness and visual impairment was cystoid macular oedema (29% and 41%, respectively). Complications of uveitis were encountered in more than half of the patients and 23% underwent one or more surgical procedures. When the patients were subdivided according to anatomical site, those with panuveitis had the worst visual prognosis. The systemic diseases associated with a poor visual prognosis were juvenile chronic arthritis and sarcoidosis. Ocular toxoplasmosis was the most frequent cause of unilateral visual loss. CONCLUSIONS: Cystoid macular oedema is the most frequent complication of uveitis and its occurrence plays a decisive role in the visual outcome of this disease.     

Ocular manifestations in children and adolescents with Lyme arthritis

BACKGROUND: Lyme arthritis is the most frequent late manifestation of Lyme borreliosis and has been associated with ocular inflammation. METHODS: A group of 153 children and adolescents with arthritis, 84 of whom had Lyme arthritis and 69 other causes of arthritis, were followed prospectively for 22-73 (median 44) months in the course of a national study. RESULTS: Three of 84 patients with Lyme arthritis had ocular inflammation (4%), including keratitis, anterior uveitis, and uveitis intermedia. All three had symptoms of decreased visual acuity. Whereas anterior uveitis disappeared without sequelae, a corneal scar and a permanent loss of visual acuity in the patients with keratitis and intermediate uveitis remained. Systematic examination of all patients revealed no further ocular involvement. Of 69 patients with other causes of arthritis who were followed in parallel as a control group, four of 15 patients with early onset pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis had chronic anterior uveitis and two of 12 patients with juvenile spondyloarthropathy had acute anterior uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular involvement with keratitis, anterior uveitis, and intermediate uveitis may occur in children and adolescents with Lyme arthritis. Visual loss appears to be symptomatic, making regular ocular screening of such patients unnecessary.     

Causes of reduced visual acuity on long-term follow-up after cataract extraction in patients with uveitis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

We reviewed the long-term follow-up on a consecutive series of 16 eyes from ten patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated cataracts that were removed by using pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy. All patients had prominent cataracts, chronic uveitis, posterior synechiae, and vitreitis preoperatively, and had at least 12 months of follow-up postoperatively. The median length of follow-up was 51 months (range, 12 months to ten years). In the early postoperative period, a visual acuity of 20/70 or better was obtained in 13 of 16 eyes (81%). With longer follow-up, the final visual acuity was 20/70 or better in only nine of 16 eyes (56%). The primary categories of delayed visual loss in these cases were glaucoma and macular disease (chronic cystoid macular edema, macular hole, hypotony maculopathy, and recurrent macular pucker). Despite these limitations in maintaining good visual acuity, a pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy approach is effective for cataracts in these patients with uveitis.     

Juvenile arthritis-associated uveitis: visual outcomes and prognosis

BACKGROUND: The current issues in the management of uveitis associated with juvenile arthritis revolve mainly around the treatment of mild disease and how to treat patients with more severe disease.The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of uveitis in a cohort of patients with juvenile arthritis as well as the nature of treatment and the risk factors for visual loss. METHODS: Review of the charts of 71 patients with juvenile arthritis, as defined by the American Academy of Rheumatology, seen between 1992 and 2001 at a combined rheumatology and ophthalmology clinic. Information collected included the patient's sex, age at diagnosis of arthritis and uveitis, and date of diagnosis of arthritis and uveitis. The rheumatologic diagnosis, results of serologic testing, and details of systemic and topical treatments were also recorded. RESULTS: There were 47 girls and 24 boys ranging in age from 16 months to 13 years. The median age at diagnosis of juvenile arthritis was 4 years and 1 month. Twenty-seven patients (38%) had uveitis.The median age at uveitis onset was 5.9 years, with an average interval of 18 months from the diagnosis of arthritis; 11 patients had uveitis at the time of arthritis diagnosis. There was a positive relation between anti-nuclear antibody positivity and the development of uveitis (p < 0.05). Thirteen (48%) of the 27 patients with uveitis had mild anterior segment inflammation, with fewer than 25 cells in the anterior chamber. This group had spontaneous resolution of uveitis without topical therapy. All the patients without uveitis had a final visual acuity of 6/9 or better. Five of the patients with uveitis had a final visual acuity of 6/36 or worse. Cataract was the most common complication affecting visual outcome. Cataract extraction initially improved the visual acuity, but posterior segment complications and glaucoma compromised the final visual outcome. INTERPRETATION: We found an incidence of uveitis of 38% with long-term follow-up of patients with juvenile arthritis; the uveitis was diagnosed an average of 18 months after the arthritis. Almost half of the patients with uveitis had minor anterior segment inflammation. These patients did not receive topical treatment and had good visual outcomes. Patients with uveitis at the time of diagnosis of arthritis tended to have a worse visual prognosis and experienced persistent uveitis despite treatment. In this series, cataract extraction was beneficial in improving visual acuity immediately postoperatively, but posterior segment changes and glaucoma may compromise final visual outcomes.     

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Associated Uveitis in Adults: A Case Series

Purpose: To report a series of adults with uveitis following juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and uveitis as children.

Methods: The clinical features, treatment, complications, and visual outcome were ascertained for 17 patients at a single centre.

Results: Seventeen adults with previously diagnosed JIA and ongoing uveitis (30 eyes) were identified. All required at least topical steroids. The complication rate was high (15 patients, 23 eyes), most frequently cataract (57%), glaucoma (33%), and posterior synechiae (30%). The rate of visual acuity loss to 6/12 threshold (6/12 or worse) for patients with uveitis?<?15 years (Group A) was 13.3%, (and 6.7% to 6/60 threshold) and for patients with uveitis >15 years (Group B) was 26.7% (and 20% to 6/60 threshold). Overall, the rate of visual acuity loss to 6/12 threshold was 20% (6 eyes) and to 6/60 threshold, 13.3% (4 eyes).

Conclusions: JIA may be associated with ongoing uveitis and complications in adulthood.