The frequency and outcome of uveitis in patients with newly diagnosed juvenile idiopathic arthritis in two 4-year cohorts from 1990-1993 and 2000-2003

• Published in: Clinical and experimental rheumatology Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 143 - 147
• Main Authors: Kotaniemi, Kaisu, Sihto-Kauppi, Kristiina, Salomaa, Pirjo, Säilä, Hanna, Ristolainen, Leena, Kauppi, Markku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Analysis of Variance; Arthritis, Juvenile - diagnosis; Arthritis, Juvenile - drug therapy; Arthritis, Juvenile - epidemiology; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Infant; Male; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Uveitis - diagnosis; Uveitis - drug therapy; Uveitis - epidemiology; Uveitis - physiopathology; Visual Acuity - drug effects; Finland
• ISSN: 0392-856X

To retrospectively compare the frequency and outcome of uveitis between two cohorts of patients with newly-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) separated by a 10 year interval.
The diagnosis of JIA was made in 239 patients in 1990-1993 and in 240 patients in 2000-2003 by paediatric rheumatologists at the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland. An ophthalmologist examined all the patients regularly and diagnosed uveitis. The demographics of the patients, type of JIA, frequency, medical treatment and outcome of uveitis were documented.
The main outcome measures were the frequency and outcome of uveitis, the number of complications and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), need of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive treatment. The frequency of uveitis was higher (25% vs. 18%) in the earlier cohort. The visual outcome was ≥0.5 in all JIA-uveitis patients except one in the earlier cohort. Complications were fewer (21% vs. 35%) and uveitis was milder according to the Standardisation of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) criteria in the later cohort. Remission of uveitis (33% vs. 42%) and arthritis (20% vs. 23%) in JIA-uveitis patients was similar in both cohorts after a follow-up of 6.6 and 5.9 years, respectively. Systemic corticosteroids were more commonly used (25% vs. 7%) in JIA-uveitis patients of the earlier cohort but the use of methotrexate was equal in both cohorts (65% vs. 67%).
In this study with early and aggressive treatment and close monitoring the outcome of JIA-uveitis patients was favourable and visual loss was avoided in most cases.