Anterior uveitis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
J. J. Kanski
The ocular and systemic characteristics of 160 patients with anterior
uveitis and seronegative juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are reviewed.
Chronic uveitis occurred in 131 patients, 76% of whom were girls. Both eyes
were involved in 70% of the cases. Band keratopathy occurred in 41% of the
eyes, cataract in 42%, and secondary glaucoma in 19%. Only 11 patients had
uveitis before the onset of arthritis. Notable correlations included a
pauciarticular onset of arthritis in 95% of the patients, and positive
tests for antinuclear antibody in 82%. Of 29 patients with acute anterior
uveitis, 27 were boys. The inflammation responded well to therapy, and
serious complications did not occur. At follow-up 21 patients had typical
ankylosing spondylitis, and five had sacroiliitis. The incidence of
positive results of tests for HLA-B27 antigen was 94%.
