C Tappeiner1, J Klotsche2, S Schenck3, M Niewerth3, K Minden4, A Heiligenhaus5. 1. German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, Leibnitz Institute, Berlin; Department of Ophthalmology at St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland. 2. German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, Leibnitz Institute, Berlin; and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Berlin, Germany. 3. German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, Leibnitz Institute, Berlin, Germany. 4. German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin, Leibnitz Institute, Berlin; and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Children's University Hospital, Berlin, Germany. 5. Department of Ophthalmology at St. Franziskus Hospital, Münster; and University Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the nationwide prevalence of uveitis in JIA and its complications over a whole decade. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational and cross-sectional study including all JIA patients from a National Paediatric Rheumatological Database (NPRD) with a uveitis add-on module in Germany (2002-2013). Temporal changes in uveitis prevalence, related secondary complications and anti-inflammatory medication were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 60 centres including 18,555 JIA patients (mean 3,863 patients/year, SD=837) were documented in the NPRD between 2002 and 2013. The mean age of the patients was 11.4 ± 4.6 years, their mean disease duration 4.4 ± 3.7 years. Among them, 66.9% were female and 51.7% ANA positive. Patients' mean age at arthritis onset was 6.9 ± 4.5 years. Treatment rates with synthetic and biological DMARDs increased during the observation period (sDMARD: 39.8% to 47.2%, bDMARD: 3.3% to 21.8%). Uveitis prevalence decreased significantly from 2002 to 2013 (13.0% to 11.6%, OR = 0.98, p=0.015). The prevalence of secondary uveitis complications also decreased significantly between 2002 and 2013 (33.6% to 23.9%, OR=0.94, p<0.001). Among the complications, the most common ones were posterior synechiae, cataract and band keratopathy. A significant increase in achieving uveitis inactivity was observed at 30.6% in 2002 and 65.3% in 2013 (OR=1.15, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Uveitis prevalence and complications significantly decreased between 2002 and 2013. This may be associated with a more frequent use of DMARDs.
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the nationwide prevalence of uveitis in JIA and its complications over a whole decade. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational and cross-sectional study including all JIA patients from a National Paediatric Rheumatological Database (NPRD) with a uveitis add-on module in Germany (2002-2013). Temporal changes in uveitis prevalence, related secondary complications and anti-inflammatory medication were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 60 centres including 18,555 JIA patients (mean 3,863 patients/year, SD=837) were documented in the NPRD between 2002 and 2013. The mean age of the patients was 11.4 ± 4.6 years, their mean disease duration 4.4 ± 3.7 years. Among them, 66.9% were female and 51.7% ANA positive. Patients' mean age at arthritis onset was 6.9 ± 4.5 years. Treatment rates with synthetic and biological DMARDs increased during the observation period (sDMARD: 39.8% to 47.2%, bDMARD: 3.3% to 21.8%). Uveitis prevalence decreased significantly from 2002 to 2013 (13.0% to 11.6%, OR = 0.98, p=0.015). The prevalence of secondary uveitis complications also decreased significantly between 2002 and 2013 (33.6% to 23.9%, OR=0.94, p<0.001). Among the complications, the most common ones were posterior synechiae, cataract and band keratopathy. A significant increase in achieving uveitis inactivity was observed at 30.6% in 2002 and 65.3% in 2013 (OR=1.15, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Uveitis prevalence and complications significantly decreased between 2002 and 2013. This may be associated with a more frequent use of DMARDs.