Which type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has the highest risk for uveitis?

Pauciarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is indeed associated with the highest risk for uveitis. This type of JIA typically affects four or fewer joints within the first six months of the disease and is most common in younger children, especially girls. The elevation in uveitis risk is particularly linked to the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and can lead to complications if not monitored and managed appropriately.

The association of pauciarticular JIA with uveitis is believed to be due to the characteristic immune dysregulation that occurs in this form of juvenile arthritis, which can involve autoimmune mechanisms leading to inflammation of the eye. Regular screening for uveitis is therefore critical in patients diagnosed with pauciarticular JIA to ensure early detection and appropriate treatment.

Other types of JIA have varying risks for uveitis. For example, systemic JIA, while it may involve other systemic symptoms, has a lower association with uveitis. Polyarticular JIA also presents a risk but is generally less than that seen in pauciarticular forms. Enthesitis-related JIA, on the other hand, primarily affects the sites where tendons attach to bone and carries a different inflammatory profile,