title: Laser flare photometry and complications of chronic uveitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate possible relationships between laser flare photometry values, complications of uveitis, and outcomes in children with chronic uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated patients with active, noninfectious anterior, intermediate, or panuveitis who were 16 years of age or younger and who had laser flare photometry at one of two academic institutions. Complications enumerated at baseline and during follow-up were compared with laser flare photometry values and to anterior chamber cell counts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least one laser flare photometry value ("flare"), defined as baseline measurement, was available for 59 patients (41 girls, 18 boys; mean age, 10.3 +/- 3.5 years); 38 of these patients had at least one additional measurement during follow-up (median 11 months). Complications of uveitis were present in 35 patients (59%) at baseline. There was a positive association between increased laser flare photometry values and complications at baseline (any complication [P =.007], posterior synechiae [P =.003]). The development of complications during follow-up was associated with the presence of complications at baseline (P =.018). A subgroup of patients with low flare at baseline had no complications during follow-up regardless of treatment given.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a positive relationship between laser flare photometry values and the prevalence of complications of uveitis in children. Laser flare photometry provides a novel way to monitor children with uveitis. Future study will be needed to determine whether values have prognostic importance and whether a treatment strategy that minimizes flare results in fewer uveitic complications.
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA. jdavis@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Leonardo M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dacanay
authors.forename: Gary N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Audina M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Berrocal
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Feuer
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D010783:Photometry / Q000295:instrumentation; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014605:Uveitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins