P38 Never say never: new onset uveitis in adolescence
Abstract Background To highlight the importance of considering new onset uveitis in adolescent patients with longstanding juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Methods We performed a retrospective review of electronic medical records. Results A 16 year-old girl was diagnosed in 2004, aged 15 months with extended oligoarticular JIA (ANA positive, >1/640 homogeneous). Her initial treatment included intra-articular steroid injections and approximately eighteen months later methotrexate, which she remained on for four years. During this time she received occasional intra-articular steroid injections. Etanercept was added in 2009 due to persistent active disease and she continued on this treatment regime for the next five years. Methotrexate was discontinued in 2013 due to intolerance. Etanercept was discontinued in 2014 due to disease remission but was restarted after three months when her arthritis flared. In 2018 biologic treatment was changed due to poor disease control. Etanercept was switched to adalimumab, initially alternate weeks but increasing to weekly together with multiple joint injections. Six months later, her disease control remained poor and drug levels and antibodies were measured. She had a strongly positive anti-drug antibody level>200 AU/ml and her adalimumab level was <0.4mgs/L (normal range 5-10). At this time our patient now aged 16 presented with a four-week history of intermittent reduced vision in her right eye. Ophthalmology review found bilateral anterior uveitis. This patient had regular eye screening from her JIA diagnosis until her 11th birthday, showing no previous evidence of uveitis. Following diagnosis of uveitis she was commenced on steroid eye drops and IV methylprednisolone to treat both her uveitis and arthritis. Infliximab, (6mg/kg) was commenced then increased (10mg/kg) for ongoing uveitis and methotrexate was restarted. Despite this treatment she has persistent low grade right uveitis. Her left eye has settled and she has no lens opacities or raised intraocular pressures. She continues with joint discomfort secondary to her hypermobility but her arthritis is currently quiescent. Conclusion Type of arthritis and age at onset historically dictated the risk of developing uveitis. However uveitis can present in any age group and in patients with any type of JIA. In our case uveitis developed for the first time almost 15years after diagnosis. With disease modifying treatments now widely used early in the management of JIA, uveitis may be masked and therefore present late or atypically. It is rare for uveitis to present so long after diagnosis, however this case highlights that rheumatology teams should be aware that it can still develop. Therefore we should never say never! Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.