Clinical course and outcome of uveitis in children.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the clinical course, complications, and visual outcome of pediatric uveitis.


METHODS
Our sample included 38 consecutive children with uveitis treated between 1986 and 2002: 15 with idiopathic uveitis, 10 with Behcet disease, 9 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, 4 with other diagnoses. The last group was excluded from the analysis because of its small size. Appropriate ophthalmologic and laboratory examinations were obtained. Treatment consisted of topical, periocular, or systemic steroids with or without immunosuppression.


RESULTS
Complications occurred in all 3 groups, although they tended to be more severe in the patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Visual acuity improved from presentation to final examination; the difference was statistically significant for the patients with idiopathic uveitis (P < 0.0005) and Behcet disease (P = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support an intensive treatment approach to childhood uveitis. The visual prognosis is good even in patients with a severe clinical course.
Friling
Ronit
R
Pediatric Ophthalmology Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel. ronitf@post.tau.ac.il
Kramer
Michal
M
Snir
Moshe
M
Axer-Siegel
Ruth
R
Weinberger
D
D
Mukamel
Masza
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents