Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal (Apr 2019)

Clinical features and characteristics of uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis in Japan: first report of the pediatric rheumatology association of Japan (PRAJ)

  • Junko Yasumura,
  • Masato Yashiro,
  • Nami Okamoto,
  • Kosuke Shabana,
  • Hiroaki Umebayashi,
  • Naomi Iwata,
  • Yuka Okura,
  • Tomohiro Kubota,
  • Masaki Shimizu,
  • Minako Tomiita,
  • Yasuo Nakagishi,
  • Kenichi Nishimura,
  • Ryoki Hara,
  • Mao Mizuta,
  • Takahiro Yasumi,
  • Fumiya Yamaide,
  • Hiroyuki Wakiguchi,
  • Masao Kobayashi,
  • Masaaki Mori

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-019-0318-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Background Although there are many reports on Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA-U) from various countries, especially from Europe and North America, there are few reports from Asia. Our aim was to investigate the epidemiology, characteristics and predictors of JIA-U in Japan. Methods Data were retrospectively collected on 726 patients with JIA from medical records as of April 2016 at 15 medical centers specialized in pediatric rheumatic diseases. Of these, patients with uveitis were further investigated for the specific characteristics of this manifestation. Results The prevalence of uveitis was 6.1% in the 726 JIA patients examined. Incidence of uveitis was significantly higher in patients with an earlier arthritis onset (2.6-vs.-5.8 years, P < 0.0001), oligoarthritis (16.1%-vs.-1.6%, P < 0.001), or anti-nuclear antibodies. On the contrary, it was significantly less common in patients with rheumatoid factor or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. A history of using methotrexate (MTX), infliximab or adalimumab was also associated with uveitis occurrence. The median age at uveitis diagnosis was 5 years, and the median time from arthritis onset to uveitis diagnosis was 2 years. The occurrence of anterior and bilateral uveitis was 79.3 and 53.7%, respectively. There were no symptoms at uveitis diagnosis in 58.5% of cases. Complications arising between the time of uveitis diagnosis and the last observation increased from 31.7 to 56.1%; in particular, cataract was increased 3-fold. While no patients lost their vision, 61.9% did not recover normal vision (≥ 1.0), and in many cases active uveitis persisted, especially in males. In addition to steroid eye drops (97.6%) and MTX (15.4%), biological agents were used for treating the uveitis in 41.5% of patients. Conclusions The epidemiology, characteristics and predictors of JIA-U in Japan are described here for the first time. Although the prevalence of JIA-U in Japan is lower than in predominantly Caucasian cohorts, as reported from North America and Europe, the epidemiology, characteristics and predictors were found to be similar.

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