title: Clinical course and outcome of uveitis in children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Ophthalmology Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva, Israel. ronitf@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friling
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snir
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Axer-Siegel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Masza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukamel
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents