Clinical characteristics and factors associated with uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a long-term single-center experience.

purposeJuvenile Idiopathic Arthritis uveitis (JIA-U) can progress without obvious clinical signs and cause permanent damage if left untreated, therefore early detection through regular screening is crucial for managing the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of uveitis and factors associated with uveitis in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) patients.

methodsThe medical records of patients with a diagnosis of non-systemic JIA who were under the care of the Department of Paediatric Rheumatology at Ankara University between June 2010 and June 2024 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were recorded and compared between those with and without uveitis.

results144 patients (92 girls, 63.9%; 83 oligoarticular JIA, 57.6%) were included in the study. Uveitis was detected in 26 patients (18.1%). 12 patients (46.2%) with JIA-U experienced complications and 3 of these patients had complications at the time of JIA-U diagnosis. The group who experienced JIA-U was characterised with female sex (p = 0.048), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) positivity (p = 0.039), younger age at the time of JIA diagnosis (p = 0.014), and more frequent articular flare-ups (p = 0.014). No significant difference was found between the groups when comparing JIA subtypes and affected joints (p > 0.05).

conclusionUveitis may present with an insidious clinical course in patients with JIA. Particularly, early onset of the disease, female gender, positive ANA status, and articular relapses should be considered warning signs for uveitis.