Uveitis is the most common extra-articular manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, typically as chronic anterior uveitis with insidious onset. Delayed and inadequate treatment may result in loss of patients' vision and even blindness. For refractory or severe uveitis related to juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic immunosuppressive agents should be used as early as possible. With the advantage of controlling ocular inflammation, avoiding ocular complications and reducing the use of traditional immunosuppressant drugs and glucocorticoid, tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors have been new therapeutic options for uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, although methotrexate is known as the first-line approach. However, there are no internationally unified guidelines for clinical issues regarding the timing of application, reduction and withdrawal of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, and no agreement on the application of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors in the management of ocular complications either. An in-depth understanding of the application status and progress of tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis has important clinical significance.
One hundred and thirty patients with uveitis in north-western zone of our country were analyzed based on anatomical classification and their causes. It was found that anterior uveitis was the commonest type in uveitis,accounting for 86.15% of total patients. Intermediate uveitis, pan-uveitis and posterior uveitis accounted repectively for 6.92%, 3.85%and3.08% of the total patients. Rheumatic arthritis was the most frequently accompanied systemic disease in patients with uveitis,showing a possibly causative link between them in their pathogenesis. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1994,10:156-158)