A Case of Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis (TINU) Syndrome with High ASLO Titer

Clinical Features of Pediatric Uveitis at a Tertiary Referral Center in the Western Region of Japan

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the clinical features of pediatric uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Western Japan.

METHODS

One hundred forty eyes of 80 patients aged <20 years at the time of uveitis onset, who visited Kyushu University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2019 were included in this study. Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, clinical findings, treatments, and visual prognoses were compared between the disease groups.

RESULTS

Of 80 patients, 32 were males and 48 were females. The average age of onset was 12.5 ± 4.8 (0-19) years. Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) were the most frequent causes, accounting for 11.3% and 10% of cases, respectively, followed by sarcoidosis (5%), Behçet's disease, acute anterior uveitis, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, and juvenile chronic iridocyclitis (3.8% each). Infectious uveitis accounted for 7.6% of the cases: cytomegalovirus was the most frequent agent. Of these cases, 43.8% were unclassified. Systemic therapies were administered to 87.5% of the patients with JIA, 33.3% of those with TINU, and 28.6% of the other diagnostic groups. In the unclassified group, 80% of the patients were followed up with only topical corticosteroids. LogMAR visual acuity of 0 or less accounted for more than 80% in the final examination.

CONCLUSION

TINU and JIA were the most common causes of pediatric uveitis. Although each required systemic therapy, most unclassified cases of pediatric uveitis were managed by topical corticosteroids alone with good visual prognosis. Accurate diagnosis is important for pediatric uveitis management.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome and recent Streptococcus infection in a 9-year-old girl

A 9-year-old girl presented to hospital with a 6-week history of non-specific constitutional symptoms and weight loss. She initially underwent extensive medical investigation without diagnosis being achieved. Although raised inflammatory markers and impaired renal function were noted during her initial admission to hospital, it was her subsequent presentation 2 weeks later with sudden-onset bilateral anterior uveitis that prompted a renal biopsy that indicated acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. A diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome was made and systemic glucocorticoid treatment initiated to prevent visual loss and preserve renal function. She has subsequently been reviewed in multidisciplinary outpatient clinics and treated with a tapering regimen of immunosuppressive therapy. Her treatment has been complicated by the side effects of glucocorticoids and by persistent relapses in ocular disease and abnormalities on urinalysis. Recent clinical investigations indicate that her uveitis is controlled and that renal function remains well preserved.