Changing face of non-infectious pediatric uveitis in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods: a comparison study

ABSTRACT

Objective

Our aim in this study was to reveal the clinical features of pediatric uveitis in the pandemic period and to compare it with the pre-pandemic era.

Methods

This retrospective study included 187 children diagnosed with uveitis between the 11^th of March 2017 and the 11^th of March 2022. The patients were divided into two groups based on the date of diagnosis as follows; Group 1: Patients diagnosed in the pre-pandemic period (11^th March 2017–11^th March 2020); Group 2: Patients diagnosed in the pandemic period (12^th March 2020–11^th March 2022). Demographic data, characteristics of uveitis, underlying diseases, systemic treatment modalities, and complications were compared between the two groups.

Results

A total of 187 (pre-pandemic 71, and pandemic 114) pediatric uveitis patients were recruited to the study. Fifty one percent (51%) of the patients were female. The number of patients diagnosed with uveitis increased approximately twice during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. The frequency of anterior uveitis was found to be significantly higher in the pandemic period than in the pre-pandemic period (p = 0.037). It was mostly presented as symptomatic uveitis. There was a decrease in the diagnosis of JIA-related uveitis. ANA positivity increased in the pandemic period (p = 0.029). The response to treatment was better and the complication rate decreased in the pandemic period.

Conclusion

The present study involved a large number of pediatric patients with uveitis. There are some differences in the characteristics of pediatric uveitis cases comparing the pandemic period and the pre-pandemic period. This increased frequency and changing clinical features of pediatric uveitis seems to be a result of COVID-19 infection.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• pars planitis
• tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome
• uveitis

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Manuscript: Elif Arslanoglu Aydin, Semanur Ozdel, Pinar Cakar Ozdal, Esra Baglan; literature search: Elif Arslanoglu Aydin, Semanur Ozdel, Pinar Cakar Ozdal, Esra Baglan; study design: Elif Arslanoglu Aydin, Semanur Ozdel, Esra Baglan; data collection: Elif Arslanoglu Aydin, İlknur Bagrul, Serife Tuncez; data analysis: Elif Arslanoglu Aydin, Semanur Ozdel, Esra Baglan, Mehmet Bulbul; data interpretation: Elif Arslanoglu Aydin, İlknur Bagrul; writing: Elif Arslanoglu Aydin, Semanur Ozdel, Esra Baglan, Pinar Cakar Ozdal, Mehmet Bulbul. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethical statement

Written consent from the patient families were obtained according to the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and the study was approved by the ethics committee of Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Child Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.