Clinical patterns of chronic iridocyclitis in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

In the present study we have reconfirmed an earlier observation of the association of iridocyclitis with limited joint involvement in children with JRA. Children who develop iridocyclitis are predominantly girls whose sera are positive for antinuclear antibodies. Iridocyclitis was found to be asymptomatic at onset. Only periodic slit lamp examinations will detect the majority of cases. Iridocyclitis began a median of 2 years after onset of arthritis. Although most episodes occurred within 7 years after onset of arthritis, the risk of this development may never be absent in these children, even after they enter adulthood. In the present study, 16% of the afflicted children experienced either unilateral or bilateral blindness.