Abstract
Chronic anterior uveitis is the most common complication of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It is a serious eye disease which, if not treated adequately, potentially leads to irreversible vision damage or blindness.
Currently, the spectrum of therapeutic options for JIA-associated uveitis is expanding, and in addition to topical treatment, systemic corticosteroids, and conventional synthetic disease-modifying drugs, biological drugs, especially tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, are increasingly used. Early steroid-sparing therapy introduction become a key point of modern approach to the treatment of JIA-associated uveitis.
The safety profile and adverse events incidence of chronic non-steroidal immunosuppressive therapy are acceptable in long-term administration. Adequately, as confirmed by some recent publications, there is a reduction in the incidence of serious ocular complications in JIA patients.
Complications are mostly a result of insufficient ocular inflammation control and long-term corticosteroid therapy. The introduction of modern treatment options, especially of the spectrum of biologicals, has significantly improved the quality of life and prognosis of patients with chronic and relapsing uveitis associated with JIA.
The aim of this publication is to provide an up-to-date overview of treatment options for chronic anterior uveitis associated with JIA, suppiemented by a treatment algorithm based on internationai recommendations, adapted for the Czech Repubiic.