Prevalence & outcome of uveitis in a regional cohort of patients with JRA

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1: J Rheumatol 1997 Oct;24(10):2031-4Comment in: J Rheumatol. 1998 Jun;25(6):1242Prevalence and outcome of uveitis in a regional cohort of patients with juvenilerheumatoid arthritis.Chalom EC, Goldsmith DP, Koehler MA, Bittar B, Rose CD, Ostrov BE, Keenan GF.Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA19104, USA.OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and outcome of chronic uveitis inpatients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

METHODS: A retrospectiveanalysis of 760 patients with JRA followed in 4 pediatric rheumatology centers.Patients with chronic uveitis were identified and their medical andophthalmologic records were reviewed.

RESULTS: Seventy-four patients withuveitis were identified. The prevalence of uveitis was 9.3%. The mean intervalfrom the onset of JRA to the onset of uveitis was 21 months, and 90% of thepatients who developed uveitis did so within the first 4 years of their disease.Visual complications (synechiae, band keratopathy, cataract, or glaucoma)developed in 31% of the patients with uveitis. Complications were more common inpatients who presented with uveitis early in the course of their JRA.Complications were also more common in antinuclear antibody (ANA) negative thanin ANA positive patients. Visual loss to 20/50 or worse occurred in only 11% ofpatients with uveitis, and no patient became blind.

CONCLUSION: In a very largecohort of patients with JRA, uveitis was uncommon and poor visual outcome wasrare. Visual complications did not necessarily result in a poor outcome.Publication Types:Multicenter StudyPMID: 9330949 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]