Clinical features of childhood uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Southern Turkey

• Published in: International ophthalmology Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 2073 - 2081
• Main Authors: Esen, Ebru, Sizmaz, Selcuk, Balci, Sibel, Ekinci, Rabia Miray Kisla, Demircan, Nihal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Arthritis; Cataracts; Children; Complications; Corticoids; Corticosteroids; Diagnosis; Edema; Epidemiology; Etiology; Eye; Eye (anatomy); Immunomodulation; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Ophthalmology; Original Paper; Patients; Pediatrics; Surgery; Toxoplasmosis; Uveitis; Turkey; Children; Management; Pediatric uveitis; Etiology; Complications; Outcomes
• ISSN: 0165-5701; 1573-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s10792-021-01764-7

Purpose To report the epidemiology, etiology, ocular characteristics, management, and visual outcomes of pediatric uveitis patients in Southern Turkey. Methods The clinical records of pediatric patients with a diagnosis of uveitis under the age of 16 years and followed up longer than 6 months were analyzed retrospectively. Results The study included 102 patients and 173 affected eyes. The mean age at presentation was 11.4 ± 3.7 years. Uveitis was predominantly bilateral (69.6%), anterior (45.1%), and chronic (58.8%). The leading diagnoses were idiopathic uveitis (38.2%), pars planitis (19.6%), and juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (14.7%). Infectious uveitis accounted for 12.7%, and toxoplasmosis was the most common cause (10.8%). At least one complication was observed in 76.3% of the eyes, and optic disk edema (37%) was the most frequent. Corticosteroids were used in 97.1% and systemic immunomodulatory agents in 49% of the patients. Ocular surgery was performed in 17.3% of the eyes, and cataract extraction was the most common (8.7%). The mean BCVA was 0.39 ± 0.66 LogMAR at baseline and 0.25 ± 0.53 LogMAR at the last recorded visit. Conclusion Pediatric uveitis is a challenging disease that requires meticulous management. Anterior uveitis is the most frequent form. Despite a changing trend for an increase in diagnostic variety, idiopathic cases still constitute the majority. A significant number of patients receive systemic therapy, develop complications, and require surgical intervention. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment might improve visual outcomes and reduce the risk of visual loss.