Publication details
Uveitidy u dětských revmatických nemocí
| Title in English | Uveitis in children's rheumatic disease |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Postgraduální medicína |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Paediatry |
| Keywords | uveitis; anterior uveitis; intermediary uveitis; posterior uveitis; acute uveitis; chronic uveitis; juvenile idiopathic arthritis |
| Description | Uveitides (inflammations of the uvea) comprise a group of inflammatory eye diseases that may result in a very serious condition of the eyes, or rather the sight, if treated insufficiently or unsuccessfully. The reasons causing uveitides may be exogenous (mostly infections or injuries), endogenous (particularly those based on autoimmune diseases) or idiopathic (reasons not known). According to their course uveitides are divided to acute and chronic, according to the affected eye structures there are anterior, intermediary and posterior uveitides. In children’s rheumatic diseases uveitides belong to one of their most frequent extraarticular manifestations. Their frequency is most evident in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, its typical form being the anterior uveitis. The acute form is revealed as reddish, photophobic and sore eyes, which usually leads to an early diagnosis and treatment. The chronic form, however, is insidious in that it can be quite asymptomatic and when unnoticed, it may result in complications such as secondary glaucoma or complicated cataracts. The basic treatment of the patients with autoimmune uveitis is a local application of corticosteroids. In complicated or recurring courses of disease it is necessary to provide the overall therapy based on steroids or possibly on immunosuppressives, most often methotrexate. The key to success in the treatment is mainly in its early start. Therefore any suspicion of the uveitis must lead to a prompt transfer of the patient to the ophthalmology examination. However, regular eye check-ups are necessary also in asymptomatic patients with children’s rheumatic diseases, particularly in those with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. |