Pars planitis: a study of clinical features and treatment results

We aimed to report the clinical findings, treatment modalities, and success rates of pediatric cases with pars planitis followed up in our clinic. This retrospective and cohort study included 46 eyes of 23 patients followed up with a diagnosis of pars planitis. Patients’ age, gender, age at symptom onset, follow-up period, initial and final visual acuity (VA) according to Snellen chart, angiographic findings and scores, initial immunosuppressive treatment, developing anterior and posterior segment complications, need for surgery, reason for and age at initiation of biological agents, side effects due to medications were recorded. 15 of the patients were male and 8 were female, and the average age was 13.26 ± 3.18 (8–17) years. The average follow-up period was 38.09 ± 19.52 (6–72) months. According to the Snellen chart, initial and final best-corrected VA values ​​were 0.6 ± 0.3 and 0.8 ± 0.2, respectively, and they increased statistically significantly (p < 0.001). Fundus fluorescein angiography (FA) performed at the time of diagnosis revealed optic disc staining in all eyes and vascular leakage in 42 eyes. The FA score at the time of the initial visit was 17.09 ± 7.21, while the FA score at the last visit was 8.52 ± 6.9 (p < 0.001). Macular edema was detected in 10 eyes, retinoschisis was detected in 6 eyes, and papillitis was detected in 15 eyes. The preferred initial treatment was methotrexate in 17 patients, azathioprine in 4 patients, and methotrexate and adalimumab in 2 patients. During follow-up, biological agents were started in 20 of 23 patients. Pars planitis is a resistant and severe uveitis entity in children. With early diagnosis and early initiation of non-corticosteroid treatment, ocular complications that may develop can be prevented.