Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2021 Apr 14;238(4):469-473. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Purpose: To investigate demographics and causes of pediatric uveitis in a Swiss tertiary reference center over a 20-year period.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective cohort study on patients with uveitis aged less than 16 years seen at Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2019.

Results: Out of 2846 patients with uveitis seen in the Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital Ocular Immune-Infectiology Department, 317 (11. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2021 Apr 7:1-15. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Brazilian Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology (SBOP), Sao Paulo/SP, Brazil.

: To present a national guideline for ophthalmologic care and surveillance of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIA-uveitis).: Review article based on medical literature and the experience of an Expert Committee composed of members of the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology/Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics/Brazilian Society of Rheumatology. Studies with a high level of evidence were selected by searching the PubMed/Medline database. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2021 Apr 1;19(1):48. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Korea.

Background: The early detection of uveitis associated with systemic inflammatory disease in children is important for proper treatment and prognosis. However, the diagnosis may be delayed because of difficulties in childhood examinations and early minor systemic symptoms. The objective of our study was to identify the pattern of childhood uveitis and investigate the frequency and clinical features of rheumatic diseases in pediatric patients with uveitis. Read More

Eur J Ophthalmol 2021 Mar 29:11206721211005696. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Introduction: The dexamethasone (DEX) implant is an FDA approved treatment for diabetic macular edema, non-infectious posterior uveitis, and macular edema secondary to branch or central retinal vein occlusions. We describe a case of anterior chamber (AC) migration of a DEX implant in a patient with a history of congenital glaucoma and perform a review of the literature on this particular complication, summarizing the common risk factors, subsequent complications, and management options.

Case Description: A 46-year-old female with a history of congenital glaucoma, status post cataract extraction with insertion of intraocular lens, pars plana vitrectomy, and Baerveldt tube implant in the left eye was referred for post-operative cystoid macular edema (CME). Read More

Clin Ophthalmol 2021 8;15:1055-1059. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

Retinal and Inflammatory Eye Diseases, Centre for Ophthalmic Specialized Care (COS), Clinic Montchoisi Teaching Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis is the most common form of intraocular inflammation with systemic involvement in childhood. Textbooks tend to describe it as non-granulomatous anterior uveitis. Here, we report the percentage of granulomatous features in JIA-related uveitis among patients at a uveitis referral center. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2021 Apr;69(4):812-823

Srimati Kanuri Santhamma Center for Vitreo-Retina Diseases, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Recent decade has seen a shift in the causes of childhood blinding diseases from anterior segment to retinal disease in both developed and developing countries. The common retinal disorders are retinopathy of prematurity and vitreoretinal infections in neonates, congenital anomalies in infants, and vascular retinopathies including type 1 diabetes, tumors, and inherited retinal diseases in children (up to 12 years). Retinal imaging helps in diagnosis, management, follow up and prognostication in all these disorders. Read More

Int Ophthalmol 2021 Feb 24. Epub 2021 Feb 24.

School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.

Purpose: To report the epidemiology, etiology, ocular characteristics, management, and visual outcomes of pediatric uveitis patients in Southern Turkey.

Methods: The clinical records of pediatric patients with a diagnosis of uveitis under the age of 16 years and followed up longer than 6 months were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: The study included 102 patients and 173 affected eyes. Read More

Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2021 Jan 10;49(1):38-45. Epub 2021 Jan 10.

Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Importance: Australian- and New Zealand-based, uveitis-specialized ophthalmologists have produced recommendations for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-type chronic anterior uveitis.

Background: Historically, the visual prognosis of JIA-type chronic anterior uveitis has been poor. New medical advances are likely to improve outcomes, but recently published guidelines are tailored for ophthalmic care in Europe and the United States. Read More

Eye (Lond) 2020 Nov 16. Epub 2020 Nov 16.

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK.

Aims: To estimate the incidence of childhood uveitis not associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Children under 16 years who presented with a new diagnosis of uveitis from November 2014 to October 2015 were identified prospectively through the British and Scottish Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit reporting card system. Incident questionnaires were sent to reporting ophthalmologists at presentation and 12 months. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2020 May 28:1-5. Epub 2020 May 28.

Department of Ophthalmology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.

: To analyze the demographic characteristics, clinical features, ocular complications, and visual outcome of pediatric patients with uveitis.: Retrospective evaluation of medical records.: The study included 156 eyes of 93 patients. Read More

J Rheumatol 2021 02 15;48(2):262-269. Epub 2020 Mar 15.

A. Heiligenhaus, MD, Department of Ophthalmology at St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, and University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Objective: Enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) represents a subgroup of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) that is regularly accompanied by anterior uveitis. This study describes the prevalence and characteristics of ERA-related uveitis.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the National Pediatric Rheumatological Database (NPRD) were used to characterize ERA-related uveitis (ERA-U). Read More

Clin Immunol 2020 02 18;211:108327. Epub 2019 Dec 18.

Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany; Department of Women's & Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Non-infectious uveitis is associated with visual impairment and blindness. Non-biologic treatment for non-infectious uveitis is not based on strong evidence. A retrospective chart review was conducted to investigate treatment response to high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in children with non-infectious uveitis. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2020 02;156(2):144-150

Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Importance: The diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection as the cause of mucocutaneous disease is challenging because current diagnostic tests are not able to differentiate M pneumoniae infection from carriage.

Objective: To examine the frequency and clinical presentation of M pneumoniae-induced mucocutaneous disease in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) using improved diagnostics.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective, longitudinal cohort study included 152 children aged 3 to 18 years with CAP enrolled in a CAP study from May 1, 2016, to April 30, 2017, at the University Children's Hospital Zurich. Read More

Int Ophthalmol 2020 Feb 4;40(2):335-342. Epub 2019 Oct 4.

Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the children affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who developed uveitis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we have examined data of 109 patients aged from 3 to 16 years, affected by JIA and followed at Paediatrics Rheumatology Clinic and Ophthalmology Clinic of University Hospital of Messina in the period from 2007 to 2017. The main outcome measures were clinical and laboratory findings related to JIA and ocular involvement. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2019 Oct 1;17(1):66. Epub 2019 Oct 1.

Pediatric Rheumatology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: JIA-associated uveitis (JIAU) is a serious, sight-threatening disease with significant long-term complications and risk of blindness, even with improved contemporary treatments. The MIWGUC was set up in order to propose specific JIAU activity and response items and to validate their applicability for clinical outcome studies.

Methods: The group consists of 8 paediatric rheumatologists and 7 ophthalmologists. Read More

Orv Hetil 2019 Aug;160(34):1335-1339

Klinikai Központ, Gyermekgyógyászati Klinika, Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar Pécs.

Uveitis is characterized by inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. Its overall incidence is low. Autoimmune diseases and infections are the most common underlying diseases. Read More

Br J Ophthalmol 2020 01 2;104(1):11-16. Epub 2019 May 2.

Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Background/aims: There is a paucity of high-level evidence to support the management of childhood uveitis, particularly for those children without juvenile idiopathic arthritis uveitis (JIA). We undertook a modified Delphi consensus exercise to identify agreement in the management of chronic anterior uveitis (CAU), the most common manifestation of childhood disease.

Methods: A four-round, two-panel process was undertaken between June and December 2017. Read More

Psychiatr Danub 2019 Mar;31(Suppl 1):44-49

Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Kišpatićeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,

JIA is the most common rheumatic disease of childhood and JIA-U is its most frequent and most devastating extraarticular manifestation. This form of uveitis is usually asymptomatic, chronic anterior uveitis, often accompained with complications. JIA-U is the main cause of vision loss and even blidness in childhood. Read More

Orthopade 2018 Nov;47(11):912-918

Abteilung für Rheumaorthopädie und Handchirurgie, Zentrum für Rheumatologie, Orthopädie und Schmerztherapie, Klinik Oberammergau, Oberammergau, Deutschland.

The treatment of children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has progressed substantially during recent years. Multiple different factors have played a role in this advancement: improved medical treatment due to the introduction of new drugs, structural improvements with provision of units specializing in childhood rheumatology, multidisciplinary treatment concepts, structured educational programs for patients and parents, improved functional treatment including sports therapy, and selective surgical and orthopedic interventions improving functional capacities. Current treatment strategies in JIA are aimed at achieving disease remission, i. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2019 04;71(4):482-491

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Objective: Systemic immunosuppressive treatment of pediatric chronic anterior uveitis (CAU), both juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated and idiopathic anterior uveitis, varies, making it difficult to identify best treatments. The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) developed consensus treatment plans (CTPs) for CAU for the purpose of reducing practice variability and allowing future comparison of treatments using comparative effectiveness analysis techniques.

Methods: A core group of pediatric rheumatologists, ophthalmologists with uveitis expertise, and a lay advisor comprised the CARRA uveitis workgroup that performed a literature review on pharmacologic treatments, held teleconferences, and developed a case-based survey administered to the CARRA membership to delineate treatment practices. Read More

Int Ophthalmol 2018 Oct 31;38(5):2061-2068. Epub 2017 Aug 31.

Retina and Uvea Services, Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India.

Aim: To study patterns of uveitis in Indian children and compare with data sets published earlier in the literature.

Methods: Consecutive patients below 16 years of age presenting to the uvea clinic of a tertiary eye care center were included prospectively through the period of July 2009-August 2013. Children with retinal vasculitis, exogenous endophthalmitis and masquerade syndromes were excluded from analysis. Read More

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2019 Jun;56(3):293-307

Anna Meyer Children's Hospital and University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139, Florence, Italy.

Autoimmune diseases affect up to 10% of the world's population and, as a whole, they are far more common in females, although differences exist according to the single disease and also in different age groups. In childhood-onset autoimmune diseases, the sex bias is generally less evident than in adults, probably for the different hormonal milieau, being estrogens strongly implicated in the development of autoimmunity. Still, some rheumatic conditions, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), show a strong predilection for girls (F:M = 3-6. Read More

Balkan Med J 2017 Apr;34(2):90-101

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical School, İstanbul, Turkey.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common chronic rheumatic disease of unknown aetiology in childhood and predominantly presents with peripheral arthritis. The disease is divided into several subgroups, according to demographic characteristics, clinical features, treatment modalities and disease prognosis. Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which is one of the most frequent disease subtypes, is characterized by recurrent fever and rash. Read More

Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2017 Sep 13;234(9):1174-1178. Epub 2017 Jan 13.

Uveitis-Zentrum, Augenärzte am St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster.

Chronic illness - such as uveitis - may lead to socio-economic consequences, and poorer quality of life. To study the influence of uveitis on quality of life and professional development. Prospective evaluation of juvenile patients with uveitis (age < 18 years, classification of uveitis as in Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature [SUN] criteria, duration of disease ≥ 12 months) seen in a tertiary referral centre. Read More

J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect 2016 Dec 28;6(1):47. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.

Background: Varicella is a common infectious disease primarily of childhood that is usually benign and self-limited. It is, however, increasingly seen in adults who are at a higher risk of severe infection. Ocular complications of varicella are relatively uncommon and have been rarely described in adults. Read More

Curr Rheumatol Rep 2016 08;18(8):55

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.

Juvenile spondyloarthropathies represent a clinical entity separate from the adult disease. Initial clinical signs of juvenile spondyloarthropathies often include lower extremity arthritis and enthesopathy, without axial involvement at the disease onset. Asymmetrical oligoarthritis of lower extremities is typically seen in this type of arthritis. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2016 Apr 27;14(1):27. Epub 2016 Apr 27.

Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, UK.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease of childhood, with JIA-associated uveitis its most common extra-articular manifestation. JIA-associated uveitis is a potentially sight-threatening condition and thus carries a considerable risk of morbidity. The aetiology of the condition is autoimmune in nature with the predominant involvement of CD4(+) T cells. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2016 07;68(7):1769-79

Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Objective: Childhood uveitis is a vision-threatening inflammatory eye disease commonly attributed to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The pathogenesis is poorly understood, which makes clinical management challenging. We analyzed soluble mediators in ocular fluid (aqueous humor [AqH]) and serum from children with JIA-associated uveitis and common childhood uveitis to identify potential biomarkers and investigate the ocular microenvironment of this sight-threatening eye disease. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2016 Aug 14;24(4):431-9. Epub 2016 Jan 14.

a Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution (MERSI) , Waltham , Massachusetts , USA.

Uveitis is a common and serious complication of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Up to 75% of all cases of anterior uveitis in childhood are associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Despite the remarkable progress in early detection and treatment of inflammation, vision-threatening complications of uveitis still occur in almost 60% of patients. Read More

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2015 Dec;56(13):7653-60

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.

Purpose: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIAU) is the most common uveitis entity in childhood. As S100A8/A9 and S100A12 proteins are valuable biomarkers in childhood arthritis, we investigated the occurrence of these proteins in childhood uveitis.

Methods: Serum samples from patients with JIAU (n = 79) or idiopathic anterior uveitis (IAU, n = 24), as well as from nonuveitic controls (n = 24), were collected. Read More