Management of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis duringthe COVID-19 pandemic in a pediatric referral center in Lombardy.

Abstract

Italy was the first European country to be affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In this scenario, we had to face a new clinical approach in our Pediatric Rheumatology Unit for the management of patients affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis. During the lockdown (phase 1), the weekly outpatient clinic was discontinued and telephone consultations were set up. A toll-free telephone number was instituted for emergencies. None of our children with JIA-associated uveitis was advised to stop the ongoing immunosuppressant systemic therapy. We had no cases of COVID-19 infection and uveitis activity was under control in all but two out of 125 patients, which was comparable with the pre-COVID-19 situation. During phase 2 of the pandemic, hospital and ambulatory rearrangements were made to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, during the first 4 weeks of phase 2, we did not notice an increased number of patients with uveitis activity.

• Authors: Elisabetta Miserocchi, Chiara Giuffrè, Giulio M Modorati, Rolando Cimaz
• Journal: Ocular immunology and inflammation (Ocul Immunol Inflamm) Vol. 28 Issue 8 Pg. 1305-1307 (Nov 16 2020) ISSN: 1744-5078 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32976038 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Arthritis, Juvenile (complications)
• Betacoronavirus
• COVID-19
• Child
• Coronavirus Infections (epidemiology)
• Disease Management
• Humans
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Pandemics
• Pneumonia, Viral (epidemiology)
• Referral and Consultation
• SARS-CoV-2
• Uveitis (etiology, therapy)