Some patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) develop uveitis. Saurenmann et al identified factors affecting the course of uveitis in these patients. The authors are from University Children's Hospital Zurich and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Patient selection: juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Risk factors for developing uveitis:
(1) young age at diagnosis (< 6 years of age)
(2) female gender
(3) antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive
(4) subtype of JIA
Subtypes of JIA:
(1) highest rate (20-30%): persistent oligoarticular, polyarticular RF negative
(2) intermediate (9-15%): systemic, psoriatic, enthesitis-related, extended oligoarticular
(3) low (1-3%): polyarticular RF positive, other JIA
Complications:
(1) synechiae
(2) cataract
(3) glaucoma
(4) band keratopathy
(5) macular edema
Risk factors for complications:
(1) suboptimal care (failure to provide early immunosuppressive therapy, lack of care coordination, lack of routine ophthalmologic exams)
(2) more severe uveitis
For most patients the outcomes were favorable.
