Ocular complications in juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA)

Effect of Advanced Glycation End-Products and Excessive Calorie Intake on Diet-Induced Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation Biomarkers in Murine Models

Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation (CLGI) is a non-overt inflammatory state characterized by a continuous activation of inflammation mediators associated with metabolic diseases. It has been linked to the overconsumption of Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs), and/or macronutrients which lead to an increase in local and systemic pro-inflammatory biomarkers in humans and animal models. This review provides a summary of research into biomarkers of diet-induced CLGI in murine models, with a focus on AGEs and obesogenic diets, and presents the physiological effects described in the literature. Diet-induced CLGI is associated with metabolic endotoxemia, and/or gut microbiota remodeling in rodents. The mechanisms identified so far are centered on pro-inflammatory axes such as the interaction between AGEs and their main receptor AGEs (RAGE) or increased levels of lipopolysaccharide. The use of murine models has helped to elucidate the local and systemic expression of CLGI mediators. These models have enabled significant advances in identification of diet-induced CLGI biomarkers and resultant physiological effects. Some limitations on the translational (murine → humans) use of biomarkers may arise, but murine models have greatly facilitated the testing of specific dietary components. However, there remains a lack of information at the whole-organism level of organization, as well as a lack of consensus on the best biomarker for use in CLGI studies and recommendations as to future research conclude this review.

Causes of reduced visual acuity on long-term follow-up after cataract extraction in patients with uveitis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

We reviewed the long-term follow-up on a consecutive series of 16 eyes from ten patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis-associated cataracts that were removed by using pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy. All patients had prominent cataracts, chronic uveitis, posterior synechiae, and vitreitis preoperatively, and had at least 12 months of follow-up postoperatively. The median length of follow-up was 51 months (range, 12 months to ten years). In the early postoperative period, a visual acuity of 20/70 or better was obtained in 13 of 16 eyes (81%). With longer follow-up, the final visual acuity was 20/70 or better in only nine of 16 eyes (56%). The primary categories of delayed visual loss in these cases were glaucoma and macular disease (chronic cystoid macular edema, macular hole, hypotony maculopathy, and recurrent macular pucker). Despite these limitations in maintaining good visual acuity, a pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy approach is effective for cataracts in these patients with uveitis.

Juvenile arthritis and uveitis

The association between juvenile arthritis and uveitis is reviewed. Some children with the HLA-B27 related spondyloarthropathies develop anterior uveitis. About 20% of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) who are negative for IgM rheumatoid factor develop a frequently bilateral, nongranulomatous chronic anterior uveitis. Risk factors for uveitis in JRA patients are: female gender, pauciarticular onset of arthritis, presence of circulating antinuclear antibodies, and the antigens HLA-DW5 and HLA-DPw2. Uveitis is rare after seven years or more have elapsed from the onset of arthritis. The visual prognosis in patients with uveitis is good in 25% and fair in 50%. The remaining 25% develop visual impairment from complicated cataract and/or secondary inflammatory glaucoma. The potential benefit of cytotoxic agents in the treatment of intractable uveitis is outweighed by the risk of serious side effects. The management of secondary inflammatory glaucoma is unsatisfactory, but the results of treatment of complicated cataracts by lensectomy-vitrectomy are good.

Pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy for complicated cataracts in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Anterior surgical approaches to cataracts in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) patients are compromised by chronic anterior and posterior uveitis, miotic pupils, and posterior synechiae. The authors retrospectively reviewed the results of pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy in ten eyes from seven JRA patients with cataracts associated with chronic iridocyclitis and vitritis. Visual acuities improved from 20/100 or worse preoperatively to 20/60 or better postoperatively. Transient postoperative hypotony lasting 1 week to 4 months occurred in four of the ten eyes. Patients with glaucoma continued to require antiglaucoma therapy after surgery. Pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy provides a theoretically preferrable approach to complicated cataracts and vitritis in JRA patients because it allows removal of peripheral lens material in the presence of a miotic pupil, eliminates the potential for synechiae to the posterior capsule and/or anterior hyaloid, and clears the visual axis of inflammatory debris.