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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Last reviewed: 12 Nov 2024
Last updated: 12 Jul 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • over 6 weeks' duration
  • joint pain
  • joint swelling
  • fever
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • age under 6 years
  • morning stiffness
  • limp
  • limited movement
  • rash
  • enthesitis
  • limb length discrepancy
  • uveitis
  • rheumatoid nodules
Full details

Risk factors

  • female sex
  • human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism
  • family history of autoimmunity
  • antibiotic exposure in childhood
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • CBC
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • C-reactive protein
  • antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
  • rheumatoid factor (RF)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody
  • chlamydia test
  • ferritin levels
  • ultrasound of affected joints
  • MRI
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

polyarticular JIA: 5 or more joints ever involved

oligoarticular JIA: 4 or fewer joints ever involved

active sacroiliitis

active enthesitis

systemic-onset JIA

Contributors

Authors

Jacqui Clinch, MRCP, FRCPCH

Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist

Department of Paediatric Rheumatology

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Bristol

UK

Disclosures

JC declares that she has no competing interests.

Natasha Smallwood, MB, ChB, MRCPCH

Consultant Paediatric Medicine and Rheumatology

Department of Paediatric Rheumatology

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Bristol

UK

Disclosures

NS declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Jacqui Clinch and Dr Natasha Smallwood would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Ripal Shah, Dr Eve Bassett, Dr Sheila Angeles-Han, and Dr Sampath Prahalad, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

RS and EB declare that they have no competing interests. SAH and SP are authors of a number of references cited in this topic. SP is the recipient of research funding from the National Institute of Health and Arthritis Foundation.

Peer reviewers

Paul Rosen, MD

Clinical Director

Division of Pediatric Rheumatology

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

PA

Disclosures

PR declares that he has no competing interests.

Murray Passo, MD

Director

Division of Rheumatology

Professor of Pediatrics

Department of Pediatrics

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston

SC

Disclosures

MP is an author of a number of references cited in this topic. He is a consultant to Pfizer Pharmaceuticals as the chairman of the Expert Advisory Panel to review toxicity of celecoxib. He has been a visiting professor from the American College of Rheumatology, and from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Patricia Woo, CBE

Professor of Paediatric Rheumatology

University College London

London

UK

Disclosures

Not disclosed.

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