Diagnosis and Treatment of Uveitis in Children: A Summary of the Latest Data from a 5-Year Literature Review (2018-2023)

Abstract

Pediatric uveitis has a low incidence. It is very diverse in its presentation and is often the first sign of a severe systemic disease. The pediatric population poses a special therapeutic and diagnostic challenge due to the potentially adverse effects of therapeutic agents on the young body and difficult cooperation with the patient during the examination, as well as the increased risk of complications that can lead to severe disability. The most commonly diagnosed type of uveitis is non-infectious, with first-line therapy consisting of systemic corticosteroids followed by disease-modifying drugs (methotrexate (MTX), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and cyclosporin A (CsA)). In severe, refractory cases, biologic therapy is used. The authors reviewed the current literature on the etiology, diagnostic tools, and treatment of uveitis in the pediatric population covering the years 2018-2023, presenting current methods of modern diagnosis and treatment. The reason for writing this article was the need to update the knowledge on uveitis, driven by the increasing prevalence of autoimmune uveitis in the pediatric population. This trend presents significant challenges in diagnosing and treating the disease, as well as managing its complications. Correctly identifying the pathogenetic factor of uveitis can facilitate the diagnosis of the systemic disease underlying the ocular infection and enable the timely implementation of systemic treatment. Furthermore, the emergence of new diagnostic methods necessitates a revision and update of ophthalmic knowledge, essential for both ophthalmologists and other specialists involved in the treatment of uveitis.

Keywords: diagnosis; optical coherence tomography; pediatric uveitis; review; treatment.

Figure 1

Flowchart of study selection and inclusion in the article.