Ocular Complications in Juvenile Chronic Arthritis (JCA)

Fifty-six children with JCA have attended the Rheumatology Clinic at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, over the past five years. Eleven have monoarthritis, 21 pauciarthritis and 24 polyarthritis. Seven children with pauciarthritis and one with monoarthritis developed ocular complications. Of these six were girls. In six children the arthritis preceded the uveitis. In one child arthritis and uveitis presented at the same time and in another the uveitis preceded the arthritis by one year. All were treated with steroids (7 topically, 1 systemically) and topical mydriatic agents. After an initial response the uveitis persisted as a low-grade inflammation gradually leading to secondary complications and increasing loss of vision. Only two patients enjoy normal vision at present. The importance of routine slit-lamp microscopy in all children with JCA is stressed, especially in those with pauciarthritis and antinuclear antibodies.