Recent advances in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis

Judy L Chen; Parinaz Abiri; Edmund Tsui

doi:10.1177/2515841420984572

Recent advances in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis

Ther Adv Ophthalmol. 2021 Feb 18:13:2515841420984572. doi: 10.1177/2515841420984572. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Judy L Chen¹, Parinaz Abiri², Edmund Tsui³

Affiliations

¹ Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
² David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 200 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7003, USA.

Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis has an estimated prevalence of 10-20% in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, making it the most common cause of chronic anterior uveitis in children. Prompt treatment is important to prevent development of ocular complications and permanent vision loss. In this review, we will discuss the use of immunosuppression in treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis. This will include the use of conventional immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate, biologic anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, such as adalimumab, as well as other anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, including infliximab and golimumab. In addition, we will discuss medications currently in clinical trials or under consideration for juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis, including interleukin-6 inhibitors (tocilizumab) and Janus kinase inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib).

Keywords: IL-6 inhibitor; JAK inhibitor; TNF inhibitor; immunomodulatory therapy; immunosuppression; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; uveitis.

Publication types

Review