Childhood leukaemia masquerading as juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Pediatric Rheumatology for the Primary Care Clinicians-Recognizing Patterns of Disease

“…There should be no evidence by history, physical exam, and laboratory/ radiographic results that other arthritis diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus) or non-rheumatic conditions (e.g., an orthopedic problem or leukemia) are likely at the time the JIA diagnosis is considered. 43,44 In the first 6-12 months of the illness, the JIA classic categories [oligoarticular, polyarticular, systemic, extended oligoarticular, enthesopathy-related syndrome with inflammation at tendon and ligamentous insertions on bone-often evolving into spondyloarthritis, psoriatic] often evolve and become obvious. It may take even a longer period of time for the psoriatic and enthesopathy JIA categories to emerge; their features often develop more slowly.…”

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: An overview

“…When children present with limp, hip pain or referred pain in the knee, possibility of Perthes disease and in obese young boys, possibility of slipped upper femoral epiphysis has to be looked for. Back pain in children can be due to spondylosis or spondylolisthesis 17 . In systemic diseases like sickle cell disease, haemophilia and glycogen storage disorders, involvement of joints can occur.…”

Bone Marrow Findings in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

“…It is exceptional but it has happened in the past and is happening still that children with malignancy are referred to pediatric rheumatologist [4,5]. Furthermore there are occasional case reports of presenting children with leukemia being treated for JIA [6].…”