Demographic and Clinical Features of Pediatric Uveitis in Israel

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report the epidemiology, etiology, ocular characteristics, treatment and visual outcome of pediatric uveitis in Israel.

Methods: Retrospective study from two tertiary uveitis centers.

Results: Included were 107 patients (182 eyes), 55% females. Mean age at diagnosis 8.8 years. Uveitis was predominantly anterior, idiopathic, bilateral, and chronic. Systemic associations were seen in 36% of patients of which the most common disease was juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Infectious uveitis accounted for 37% of posterior uveitis cases of which toxoplasmosis was the most common cause. Anterior segment complications were commonly observed at presentation (41%); the most predominant were posterior synechiae, cataract, and band keratopathy. The most common posterior segment complications were papillitis, epiretinal membrane, and macular atrophy/scar. Ninety-three percent of eyes had visual acuity >20/40 at last follow-up.

Conclusion: The pattern of pediatric uveitis in Israel is similar to that in the western world. Visual outcome was good in most eyes.

Keywords:

• Adolescents
• anterior uveitis
• children
• corticosteroids
• intermediate uveitis
• panuveitis
• posterior uveitis
• TNF-α inhibitors
• uveitis
• uveitis complications

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.