Managing uveitis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) associated uveitis is the most common extraarticular comorbidity. The management of JIA associated uveitis is still a challenge for every pediatric rheumatologist and ophthalmologist.

Areas covered: This review covers the current data on systemic therapy for JIA associated uveitis.

Currently, only one randomised controlled trial regarding treatment of JIA associated uveitis has been undertaken and published as full paper. A second one is available as an abstract. The review covers the current publications regarding systemic treatment of JIA associated uveitis and current suggested guidelines.

Expert opinion: Despite all the current therapy options, there are patients who remain non-responders. The aim of the current treatment strategy is to target remission, using systemic therapy as early as needed to prevent any damage of JIA associated uveitis.

KEYWORDS:

• Uveitis
• juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• treatment
• therapeutic window
• methotrexate
• adalimumab
• infliximab
• tocilizumab
• rituximab

Article highlights

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) associated uveitis is the most common extra-articular comorbidity.

• The aim of the current treatment strategy is to target remission.

• It is important to use systemic therapy as early as needed.

• Out target should be to prevent any damage of JIA associated uveitis.

This box summarizes the key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgment

I thank Clare Pain for reviewing the English language of this paper.

Declaration of interest

I Foeldvari has participated in advisory boards for Abbvie and Chugai. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed.