title: Use of Immunosuppressive Medications for Treatment of Pediatric Intermediate Uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the treatment and outcomes of a cohort of pediatric intermediate uveitis (IU) patients, with a particular focus on the use of immunomodulatory therapy (IMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The disease course, treatment, and outcomes of 39 pediatric IU patients treated in the Uveitis Clinic at the University of Utah from 1999 to 2012 were reviewed, retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age at presentation was 7.7 years (SD 3.1). In total, 95% had bilateral involvement. Out of 77 total eyes involved, the most frequent disease complications were ocular hypertension (0.71 events per person year, PPY), cataracts (events PPY = 0.39), and cystoid macular edema (events PPY = 0.33). A total of 20 patients received IMT; 19/20 were tapered off systemic corticosteroids without a uveitis recurrence; 75% of eyes had inactive disease at final follow-up (mean 37 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of IMT, including biologic therapies, may effectively manage disease inflammation and reduce steroid dosages in pediatric IU patients.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
authors.forename: Aimee O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Hersh
authors.affiliation: b University of Texas San Antonio, Center for Health Sciences , San Antonio , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cope
authors.affiliation: a Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics , University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bohnsack
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ophthalmology , John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shakoor
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ophthalmology , John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.
authors.forename: Albert T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Vitale
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015867:Uveitis, Intermediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Immunosuppression; intermediate uveitis; pediatrics