Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the clinical and visual outcome of patients with Juvenile Idiopahtic Arthritis (JIA)–associated uveitis 7 and 24 years after onset of the eye disease.
Methods: :
Fifty–five patients who developed JIA–associated uveitis and who were treated for JIA between 1973 and 1982 at the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology were retrospectively evaluated after 7 years of eye disease. Forty–nine of these were also evaluated after 24 years of eye disease.
Results: :
Fifty–five (15.7%) out of 350 patients with JIA developed uveitis. Forty–six (84%) of the patients had oligoarthritis, 6 (11%) had polyarthrits and 3 (5%) had systemic disease. At 7 years some form of ocular complication was seen in 32 (58%) of the patients. Cataract was seen in 19 (34%)of the patients at 7 years and in 28 (51%) of the patients at 24 years. Uveitic glaucoma was seen in 3 (5%) at 7 years and in 12 (22%) at 24 years follow–up. Half of the patients (27/55) still had active uveitis at 24 years. Visual reduction occurred mainly during the first 7 years. Thereafter visual acuity was not significantly reduced. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of cataract and uveitic glaucoma was seen between the 7th and 24th year of disease.
Conclusions: :
Twenty–four years after onset of JIA–associated uveitis the inflammatory eye disease was still active in approximately 50 % if these Swedish patients. The results indicate an increased risk for further visual reduction later in life.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • inflammation