Childhood Arthritis: Classification and Radiology

The pattern of juvenile idiopathic arthritis; a retrospective Egyptian study

“…The cases were diagnosed according to ILAR criteria and they were followed up more than 6 months at Rheumatology Clinic. 6,7 The collected data included: gender, age, age of first presentation, duration, clinical subtype (systemic onset arthritis, oligoarthritis or polyarthritis and arthralgia). The distribution of involved joints, main presenting features (morning stiffness, intermittent fever, skin rash, pallor, lymphadenopathy, hepato-splenomegaly, uveitis, pericardial effusion or valve damage).…”

“…It has heterogeneous presentation therefore, the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) proposed different classification. 3,6,7 The diagnosis of JIA is based upon the pattern of symptoms; morning stiffness (>1 hour), distribution of the inflamed joints and blood and x-ray findings and exclusion of other causes. While, the management of the disease is a multidisciplinary which rely on anti-inflammatory and immune modulatory medications with physical therapy.…”

Clinical Possibilities of Manifestation of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

“…Definition: Arthritis in one or more joints with or proceeded by fever of at least 2 weeks` duration that is documented to be daily for at least 3 days [9][10][11][12]. …”

Magnetic resonance imaging in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Peculiarities of imaging children

“…But it will not allow you to evaluate acute inflammatory changes or see the cartilage which at pediatric age is a very important component of the skeletal system. 13,14 Similarly it is less sensitive than other image modalities when assessing chronic structural changes, 15 uses ionizing radiation and inter-observer variability in its interpretation is really high. 16 It can be normal at early stages of the disease.…”

“…Its main advantage compared to the simple X-ray is that is can assess acute inflammatory changes. As a matter of fact it is more sensitive than clinical exploration when it comes to finding inflammatory signs in certain joints---especially in the small joints of hands and feet, 20 if high frequency linear transducers are used (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Similarly because it does not irradiate or require sedation it allows us to do serial studies in an attempt to monitor responses to treatment.…”