[Early vitrectomy in endogenous juvenile uveitis intermedia--a long-term study].
BACKGROUND
The intermediate uveitis is one of the most common intraocular manifestations of inflammation during infancy and adolescence. The success of intensive pharmacological treatment is rather limited and often associated with heavy side effects.


METHODS
In 25 eyes with juvenile uveitis intermedia (age of the patients between 5 and 18 years, mean 13.5 years) and visual acuities between 0.02 and 0.4 (mean 0.19) an early vitrectomy was performed after failure of conservative treatment and peripheral cryocoagulation.


RESULTS
Almost all patients (22 out of 25) showed an improvement of visual acuity within the first 6 months of the surgery. Among the patients with a remarkable improvement of visual acuity 7 eyes had a chronic cystoid macular oedema which showed a regression postoperatively. Additionally, the number and the course of inflammatory periods could be reduced postoperatively. An increase of preexisting lens opacities, however, has not been noticed even after a follow-up period of 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that an early vitrectomy in cases of juvenile uveitis intermedia often leads to a stabilization or an improvement of visual acuity and a regression of the inflammatory attacks (episodes). Therefore, in children and adolescents with endogenous uveitis intermedia a pars plana vitrectomy instead of a long-term systemic immunosuppression associated with heavy side-effects should be considered.
Kroll
P
P
Medizinisches Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Philipps-Universität Marburg.
Romstöck
F
F
Grenzebach
U H
UH
Wiegand
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015867:Uveitis, Intermediate / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014821:Vitrectomy
D018836:Inflammation Mediators
Frühvitrektomie bei endogener juveniler Uveitis intermedia--Eine Langzeitstudie.