Paediatric autoimmune and autoinflammatory conditions associated with uveitis

Abstract

Childhood uveitis comprises a collection of heterogenous ocular phenotypes which are associated with a diverse range of childhood autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders. Of these genetic and/or acquired disorders, juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common, affecting 30-80% of children with uveitis. Up to a third of children with uveitis have ‘isolated’ idiopathic disease and do not have an associated systemic disease which manifests in childhood. However, uveitis may be the presenting manifestation of disease; thus, the apparently well child who presents with uveitis may have isolated idiopathic disease, but they may have an evolving systemic disorder. The diagnosis of most of the associated disorders is reliant on clinical features rather than serological or genetic investigations, necessitating detailed medical history taking and systemic examination. Adequate control of inflammation is key to good visual outcomes, and multidisciplinary care is key to good broader health outcomes.