ABSTRACT

The aim of our study was to assess the demographic, anatomic and diagnostic features, systemic associations and ocular complications of our patients diagnosed to have pediatric uveitis. Medical records of 10 cases under the age of 16 who were followed between 2006 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Of all the cases, 3 were female (%30) and 7 were male (%70). One eye in 3 cases (30%) and two eyes in 7 cases (70%) were involved (17 eyes). Of all the cases, anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis and panuveitis were diagnosed in 4 (40%), 1 (10%) and 5 (50%) cases, respectively. Behçet’s disease was diagnosed in 3 cases with panuveitis (6 eyes), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed in 1 case with unilateral anterior uveitis, and pars planitis was diagnosed in 1 case with unilateral intermediate uveitis on the basis of diagnostic tests. At least one of the oral steroid and immunosuppressive treatments was started in patients with panuveitis, and it was detected that macular edema developed as a complication at least once in the follow-up of these cases. Uveitis affects mostly males in childhood and a considerable amount of uveitis presents as panuveitis in developing countries. Behçet’s disease plays an important role in the etiology of patients with panuveitis. Immunosupressive therapy is frequently required especially in patients with panuveitis, and these patients should also be followed closely regarding ocular complications.

Keywords: Behçet’s disease, epidemiology, inflammation, panuveitis, pediatric uveitis