title: Characteristics of a cohort of children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and JIA-associated Uveitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA-U) can lead to poor visual outcomes and impact a child's quality of life (QOL) and function. Our aim is to identify risk markers of JIA-U and examine differences in the QOL of children with JIA and JIA-U.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rheumatology and ophthalmology record reviews and questionnaires were completed every 4-6 months on 287 children with JIA. We collected arthritis, uveitis, and QOL data. We examined data through last study visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 52/287 (18%) children with JIA-U who were younger at arthritis diagnosis, had oligoarticular persistent JIA, and ANA positive. Confirmed uveitis predictors were age at JIA diagnosis (OR = 0.86) and oligoarticular subtype (OR = 5.92). They had worse vision specific QOL and function, but similar general QOL. Blindness occurred in 17.5% of children but was more common in African American children compared to non-Hispanic Caucasian children ((5/7 (71%) vs. 2/29 (7%), p <0.001) despite a similar uveitis prevalence (22% vs. 16%). Both races had similar complications, although band keratopathy was more frequent in African Americans (75% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm young age at JIA diagnosis and the oligoarticular JIA subtype as predictors of uveitis development. Although we were unable to identify predictors of ocular complications or blindness, AA children appeared to have a more severe disease course manifested by increased ocular complications, vision loss and blindness. Potential causes that warrant additional study include underlying disease severity, access to medical care and referral bias. Further investigation of the risk factors for vision-compromising uveitis and its' long-term effects should be conducted in a large racially diverse population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. sangele@emory.edu.|Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 1405 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. sangele@emory.edu.|Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365-B Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. sangele@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Sheila T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Angeles-Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. courtney.mccracken@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. steven.yeh@emory.edu.|Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365-B Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. steven.yeh@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 1405 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. Kirsten.Jenkins@choa.org.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. daneka.stryker@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Daneka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stryker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. kelly.a.rouster-stevens@emory.edu.|Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 1405 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. kelly.a.rouster-stevens@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rouster-Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. lvogler@emory.edu.|Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 1405 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. lvogler@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Larry B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Vogler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. scott.lambert@emory.edu.|Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365-B Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. scott.lambert@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. cdrews@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drews-Botsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. sprahal@emory.edu.|Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 1405 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. sprahal@emory.edu.|Department of Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. sprahal@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Sampath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prahalad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014605:Uveitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People