Clinical, Laboratory and Radiological Predictors of Extension of Oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common chronic rheumatic illness in children and is a significant cause of both short- and long-term disabilities. The aim of this study is to detect clinical, laboratory and radiological predictors of oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), which could be used to identify children whose disease is likely to extend to a more severe phenotype.

Methods: This study included 40 oligoarticular JIA patients with no more than two years disease duration. Patients were divided into 2 groups after 6 months of illness into persistent and extended phenotypes. All patients were subjected to clinical, laboratory and conventional radiological assessment.

Results: In extended JIA patients there was a significant increase in age of patients, upper limb joint involvement, bilateral symmetrical arthritis, disease activity and functional outcome measures. Moreover, a significant elevation of ESR and CRP levels and RF positivity, as well as ANA negativity and radiological findings of joint inflammation were evident in extended phenotype.

Conclusion: Many clinical, laboratory and radiological predictors of conversion to extended oligoarticular JIA patients were close to charactertics of polyarticular form of the disease.




doi:10.4021/ijcp29w