Male gender and poor visual outcome in uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

PURPOSE: To analyze visual outcome in uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) according to age of onset of uveitis, gender, and initial manifestation of JIA.

DESIGN: Retrospective nonrandomized interventional case series.

METHODS: Visual outcome of 117 affected eyes (65 patients) with JIA-associated uveitis was noted at onset of uveitis and after 1, 3, and 5 years. Visual outcome was analyzed according to gender, age of onset of JIA-associated uveitis (<7 years and >7 years), and initial manifestation of JIA (as uveitis or as arthritis). Linear and logistic regression with generalized estimating equation (GEE) was performed.

RESULTS: Median age of onset of uveitis was 4.2 years (range 1.5-16). Female-to-male ratio was 3:1. In 15 children (23%) uveitis was diagnosed before arthritis. Visual acuity of boys was significantly worse at 1 and 3 years of follow-up (both P 7 years) groups was noted. Blindness was independently associated with male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 6.61; 95% CI: 1.02-42.98; P = .048).

CONCLUSIONS: Male gender was an independent risk factor for poor visual prognosis in JIA-associated uveitis. Children in whom uveitis is being diagnosed before arthritis have significantly worse vision until 3 years after uveitis onset.