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Epidemiology and Clinical Course of Pediatric Uveitis in a Tertiary Referral Center in Northeastern Iran
Sahel Khazaei1, Elham Bakhtiari1, Mohammad Reza Ansari Astaneh1
1Eye Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Insights
Pediatric uveitis, often non-infectious and bilateral, frequently presents with complications like cataracts. However, timely treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Behcet's disease leads to improved vision.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Pediatric uveitis is a significant cause of vision loss in children.
- Understanding its epidemiology and clinical course is crucial for effective management.
- Tertiary referral centers play a key role in managing complex pediatric uveitis cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the distribution, clinical features, treatments, complications, and visual outcomes of pediatric uveitis.
- To analyze data from a tertiary referral ophthalmic center over a five-year period.
- To identify common causes and outcomes of pediatric uveitis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for patients aged 18 years or younger diagnosed with uveitis.
- Data collected from August 2016 to August 2021.
- Analysis of patient demographics, uveitis characteristics, systemic associations, complications, and visual acuity outcomes.
Main Results:
- Out of 97 pediatric patients, anterior uveitis was most common (34%), predominantly chronic (60.8%) and bilateral (64.9%).
- Non-infectious uveitis accounted for 82.5% of cases, with idiopathic causes in 36.1%.
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (16.5%) and Behcet's disease (15.5%) were the most frequent systemic associations. Ocular complications, such as cataracts and vasculitis, affected 76.3% of patients.
- Improved best-corrected visual acuity was observed across all anatomic locations during follow-up (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Behcet's disease are key systemic associations in pediatric uveitis.
- Ocular Behcet's disease is a notable cause of pediatric uveitis in northeastern Iran.
- Prompt and appropriate treatment strategies are essential for achieving favorable visual outcomes in pediatric uveitis.
Purpose:
To describe the distribution, clinical findings, treatment, complications, and visual outcomes of pediatric uveitis at a tertiary referral ophthalmic center.
Methods:
The medical records of all patients ≤18 years diagnosed with and managed as uveitis from August 2016 to August 2021 were reviewed retrospectively.
Results:
Of the 97 patients, 52.6% were female, and the mean age at the onset was 10.5 ± 4.6 years (6 months to 18 years). Uveitis cases were predominantly anterior (33 [34%]), chronic (59 [60.8%]), bilateral (63 [64.9%]), and non-infectious (80 [82.5%]). A total of 36.1% (35 patients) of cases were idiopathic, and the most frequent systemic associations were juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 16 [16.5%]) and Behcet's disease (15 [15.5%]). Most patients (74 [76.3%]) experienced ocular complications, including vasculitis (29 [29.9%]), posterior synechiae (23 [23.7%]), and cataracts (22 [22.7%]). Patients with uveitis of all anatomic locations experienced an improvement in best-corrected visual acuity during the follow-up period (p < 0.01).
Conclusion:
The most prevalent systemic associations were JIA and Behcet's disease. Ocular Behcet is a common etiology of pediatric uveitis in northeastern Iran. A timely and appropriate treatment could result in satisfactory visual outcomes.
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