BackgroundDifferent diagnostic and classification criteria are available for hereditary recurrent fevers (HRF)—familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic fever syndrome (TRAPS), mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) and cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS)—and for the non-hereditary, periodic fever, aphthosis, pharyngitis and adenitis (PFAPA). We aimed to develop and validate new evidence-based classification criteria for HRF/PFAPA.MethodsStep 1: selection of clinical, laboratory and genetic candidate variables; step 2: classification of 360 random patients from the Eurofever Registry by a panel of 25 clinicians and 8 geneticists blinded to patients’ diagnosis (consensus ≥80%); step 3: statistical analysis for the selection of the best candidate classification criteria; step 4: nominal group technique consensus conference with 33 panellists for the discussion and selection of the final classification criteria; step 5: cross-sectional validation of the novel criteria.ResultsThe panellists achieved consensus to classify 281 of 360 (78%) patients (32 CAPS, 36 FMF, 56 MKD, 37 PFAPA, 39 TRAPS, 81 undefined recurrent fever). Consensus was reached for two sets of criteria for each HRF, one including genetic and clinical variables, the other with clinical variables only, plus new criteria for PFAPA. The four HRF criteria demonstrated sensitivity of 0.94–1 and specificity of 0.95–1; for PFAPA, criteria sensitivity and specificity were 0.97 and 0.93, respectively. Validation of these criteria in an independent data set of 1018 patients shows a high accuracy (from 0.81 to 0.98).ConclusionEurofever proposes a novel set of validated classification criteria for HRF and PFAPA with high sensitivity and specificity.

Recent therapeutic advances in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have made remission an achievable goal for most patients. Reaching this target leads to improved outcomes. The objective was to develop recommendations for treating JIA to target. A Steering Committee formulated a set of recommendations based on evidence derived from a systematic literature review. These were subsequently discussed, amended and voted on by an international Task Force of 30 paediatric rheumatologists in a consensus-based, Delphi-like procedure. Although the literature review did not reveal trials that compared a treat-to-target approach with another or no strategy, it provided indirect evidence regarding an optimised approach to therapy that facilitated development of recommendations. The group agreed on six overarching principles and eight recommendations. The main treatment target, which should be based on a shared decision with parents/patients, was defined as remission, with the alternative target of low disease activity. The frequency and timeline of follow-up evaluations to ensure achievement and maintenance of the target depend on JIA category and level of disease activity. Additional recommendations emphasise the importance of ensuring adequate growth and development and avoiding long-term systemic glucocorticoid administration to maintain the target. All items were agreed on by more than 80% of the members of the Task Force. A research agenda was formulated. The Task Force developed recommendations for treating JIA to target, being aware that the evidence is not strong and needs to be expanded by future research. These recommendations can inform various stakeholders about strategies to reach optimal outcomes for JIA.

Takayasu arteritis is an idiopathic granulomatous vasculitis of the aorta and its main branches and it constitutes one of the more common vasculitides in children. Inflammation and intimal proliferation lead to wall thickening, stenotic or occlusive lesions, and thrombosis, while destruction of the elastica and muscularis layers originates aneurysms and dissection. Carotid artery tenderness, claudication, ocular disturbances, central nervous system abnormalities, and weakening of pulses are the most frequent clinical features. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by the observation of large vessel wall abnormalities: stenosis, aneurysms, occlusion, and evidence of increased collateral circulation in angiography, MRA or CTA imaging. The purpose of this revision is to address the current knowledge on pathogenesis, investigations, classification, outcome measures and management, and to emphasize the need for timely diagnosis, effective therapeutic intervention, and close monitoring of this severe condition.

In 2012, a European initiative called Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) was launched to optimise and disseminate diagnostic and management regimens in Europe for children and young adults with rheumatic diseases. Juvenile localised scleroderma (JLS) is a rare disease within the group of paediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD) and can lead to significant morbidity. Evidence-based guidelines are sparse and management is mostly based on physicians’ experience. This study aims to provide recommendations for assessment and treatment of JLS. Recommendations were developed by an evidence-informed consensus process using the European League Against Rheumatism standard operating procedures. A committee was formed, mainly from Europe, and consisted of 15 experienced paediatric rheumatologists and two young fellows. Recommendations derived from a validated systematic literature review were evaluated by an online survey and subsequently discussed at two consensus meetings using a nominal group technique. Recommendations were accepted if ≥80% agreement was reached. In total, 1 overarching principle, 10 recommendations on assessment and 6 recommendations on therapy were accepted with ≥80% agreement among experts. Topics covered include assessment of skin and extracutaneous involvement and suggested treatment pathways. The SHARE initiative aims to identify best practices for treatment of patients suffering from PRDs. Within this remit, recommendations for the assessment and treatment of JLS have been formulated by an evidence-informed consensus process to produce a standard of care for patients with JLS throughout Europe.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic disease in children and young people (CYP) and a major cause of pain and disability. The vast majority of the world's children and their families live in less resourced countries (LRCs) and face significant socioeconomic and healthcare challenges. Current recommendations for standards of care and treatment for children with JIA do not consider children living in less resourced countries. In order to develop appropriate recommendations for the care of CYP with JIA in less resourced countries a meeting of experienced pediatric rheumatologists from less resourced countries was convened with additional input from a steering group of international pediatric rheumatologists with experience in developing recommendations and standards of care for JIA. Following a needs assessment survey of healthcare workers caring for CYP with JIA in LRC, a literature review was carried out and management recommendations formulated using Delphi technique and a final consensus conference. Responses from the needs assessment were received from 121/483 (25%) practitioners from 25/ 49 (51%) less resourced countries. From these responses, the initial 84 recommendations were refined and expanded through a series of 3 online Delphi rounds. A final list of 90 recommendations was proposed for evaluation. Evidence for each statement was reviewed, graded, and presented to the consensus group. The degree of consensus, level of agreement, and level of evidence for these recommendations are reported. Recommendations arrived at by consensus for CYP with JIA in less resourced countries cover 5 themes: (1) diagnosis, (2) referral and monitoring, (3) education and training, (4) advocacy and networks, and (5) research. Thirty-five statements were drafted. All but one statement achieved 100% consensus. The body of published evidence was small and the quality of evidence available for critical appraisal was low. Our recommendations offer novel insights and present consensus-based strategies for the management of JIA in less resourced countries. The emphasis on communicable and endemic

Objective To develop a composite disease activity score for systemic JIA (sJIA) and to provide preliminary evidence of its validity. Methods The systemic Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (sJADAS) was constructed by adding to the four items of the original JADAS a fifth item that aimed to quantify the activity of systemic features. Validation analyses were conducted on patients with definite or probable/possible sJIA enrolled at first visit or at the time of a flare, who had active systemic manifestations, which should include fever. Patients were reassessed 2 weeks to 3 months after baseline. Three versions were examined, including ESR, CRP or no acute-phase reactant. Results A total of 163 patients were included at 30 centres in 10 countries. The sJADAS was found to be feasible and to possess face and content validity, good construct validity, satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.64–0.65), fair ability to discriminate between patients with different disease activity states and between those whose parents were satisfied or not satisfied with illness outcome (P < 0.0001 for both), and strong responsiveness to change over time (standardized response mean 2.04–2.58). Overall, these properties were found to be better than those of the original JADAS and of DAS for RA and of Puchot score for adult-onset Still’s disease. Conclusion The sJADAS showed good measurement properties and is therefore a valid instrument for the assessment of disease activity in children with sJIA. The performance of the new tool should be further examined in other patient cohorts that are evaluated prospectively.

Background Data regarding the safety and efficacy of treatment regimens for juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) tends to be from anecdotal, small, uncontrolled, non-randomized case series. Objectives This randomized trial was aimed to find out the treatment regimen associated with the lowest occurrence of flare and the lowest drug related toxicity. Methods Children with newly diagnosed JDM were randomized in an open fashion to receive one of 3 different therapeutic approaches: prednisone (PDN) versus PDN plus methotrexate (MTX) versus PDN plus Cyclosporine A. The overall hypothesis to be tested in this trial was that the early introduction of combination therapy of corticosteroids and either MTX or CsA will prove more effective and safe than corticosteroids alone in the treatment of JDM. Primary outcome measures after 6 months of treatment: response rate according to the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO) provisional definition of improvement in the 3 arms (20% improvement in at least 3 core set variables with no more than 1 of the remaining variables, (muscle strength excluded), worsened by > 30%). The PRINTO JDM core set variables are: 1) muscle strength by the mean of the Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale (CMAS); 2) physician’s global assessment of disease activity on a 10 cm VAS ; 3) global disease activity assessment by the mean of the Disease Activity Index (DAS); 4) parent’s/patient’s global assessment of overall well-being on a 10 cm VAS; 5) functional ability assessment by the mean of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ); 6) health-related quality of life assessment. Primary outcome measures after 24 months of treatment: a) time to inactive disease; b) time to major therapeutic changes because of inefficacy/flare/adverse events. Results 138/139 randomized patients were included in the efficacy dataset. There were 81/138 females (59%) with a median age at onset of 7.4 years (1st-3rd quartiles 1.1-15.4) and a median disease duration of 2.8 months (1.4-5.3). Frequency of response at 6 months was for 24/46 (52.2%) for PDN, 31/46 (67.4%) for PDN+CSA and 34/46 (73.9%) for PDN+MTX (p 0.082). Time to inactive disease in the combination group (PDN+CSA or PDN+MTX) was significantly shorter than that of PDN alone (p 0.031). Time to major therapeutic changes in the combination group (PDN+CSA or PDN+MTX) was significantly longer than that of PDN alone (p 0.009). Total number of adverse events were 57/276 (20.7%) in the PDN group, 141/276 (51.1%) in PDN+CSA and 78/276 (28.3%) in PDN+MTX (p < 0.0001). Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders, and nervous system disorders were statistically more frequent in PDN+CSA (p 0.0015, p 0.039 respectively). Conclusions Combined therapy with PDN and either CSA or MTX was more effective than with PDN alone. However the safety profile favour the combination with MTX toward that with CSA. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

The ADDI is a reliable and valid instrument to quantify damage in individual patients and can be used to compare disease outcomes in clinical studies.