Biomechanical properties of the cornea in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. A case-control study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate biomechanical properties of the cornea among patients affected with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as compared to a group of a control group of visually healthy children

Methods: Twenty eight children (10 cases and 18 controls) were prospectively assessed in a cross-sectional study. Diagnosis of JIA was based on clinical criteria according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR). All children underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation; in addition, central corneal thickness (CCT), and biomechanical properties of the cornea (Ocular Response Analyzer -ORA; Reichert, U.S.A.) were determined in all subjects; intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured with rebound tonometry (iCare; Helsinki, Finland) was also performed in a random order. Non-parametric statistics was used and a p value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant

Results: Due to the design of the study, median values of age and gender proportion were not statistically different between cases (11.5 years) and controls (11.0). Median values of IOP (measured either by iCare or ORA) were higher in controls (RE = 15.9 mm Hg, and 14.45 mm Hg; LE = 14.5 mm Hg, and 13.9 mm Hg) as compared to cases (RE = 10.6 mm Hg and 13.9 mm Hg; LE = 13.0 mm Hg and 13.5 mm Hg) but no statistically significant difference was demonstrated. Median values of corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor were slightly greater but non-significantly different in the control group as compared to the cases

Conclusions: Biomechanical properties of the cornea among patients with JIA are not different as compared to the control group of children visually healthy

Keywords: 479 cornea: clinical science • 432 autoimmune disease • 464 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment