To investigate the risk factors for developing uveitis in a regional cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as classified under ILAR criteria.
The clinical factors for developing uveitis and its visual outcome were studied retrospectively for all children diagnosed with JIA at Nottingham University Hospital, England from 1974 to 2001.
A total of 202 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis were identified. Twenty-three patients (11.4%) were found to have uveitis. The mean age of arthritis onset in those with uveitis was 4.9 (95% CI 3.4-6.4) and in those without uveitis was 7.6 (95% CI 7.0-8.3), p = 0.002. Both the persistent and extended oligoarthritis groups are at significant risk of developing uveitis on Kaplan-Meier analysis with p = 0.001 and 0.013, respectively, compared to other ILAR subtypes. Extended oligoarthritis (1 to 4 joints affected in first 6 months of disease but 5 or more cumulative joints after first 6 months) had the highest prevalence of uveitis (25%) among the ILAR subtypes. Patients with extended oligoarthritis also developed uveitis earlier than persistent group, p = 0.017. Gender, race, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) status were not significant risk factors. The visual outcome was favorable, with 90% achieving acuity of 6/12 or better.
Patients with extended oligoarthritis are at higher risk and have a shorter interval from diagnosis of arthritis to development of uveitis and need to be monitored more closely. Screening guideline for JIA-associated uveitis based on ILAR classification is called for.