FREQUENCY AND COMPLICATIONS OF CHRONIC IRIDOCYCLITIS IN ANA-POSITIVE PAUCIARTICULAR JUVENILE CHRONIC ARTHRITIS

Chronic iridocyclitis (CI) is among the most important extra-articular manifestations of juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and is most often observed in young girls with pauciarticular JCA and circulating antinu clear antibodies (ANAs). The frequency of CI found in 39 children with ANA-positive pauciarticular JCA was 56%. None of the patients develop ed ocular complications during follow-up. We think that this favourabl e outcome was primarily due to the early diagnosis and to our choice o f using atropine as a mydriatic agent and to prolong atropine, after h aving spaced its administration further apart, up to one year or longe r after the remission of ocular manifestations.