CLINICALAND RADIOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF JOINT INVOLVEMENT IN JUVENILE INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN NORTH INDIA

Abstract

Introduction:Juvenile inammaory arthritis (JRA) is a common rheumatic disease of unknown etiology. There are few studies which objectively measure regional patterns of disease activity and effects on functionality. Methods: This observational study of 35 children with JRA was conducted in a university tertiary care center with paediatric rheumatology specialty. Clinical and radiological parameters using 27 joint Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS) and Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) questionnaire for assessing disease activity, radiological ndings and quality of life in over a period of 18 months. Results: Males were more commonly affected than females, with appendicular skeleton involvement more common. Oligoarticular subtype was most common. Knee joint was most commonly affected. Grade 1 pain, swelling, tenderness was most common clinical nding among all the subgroups. In early course of disease osteopenia and subchondral collapse were common radiological nding. Joint destruction was more common in radiographs of children with longer duration of disease. JADAS score was maximum on Polyarthritis Rheumatoid Factor Positive (PolyRF +ve) patients and CHAQ score for Systemic Onset Juvenile Inammatory Arthritis (SoJIA) subgroup with equal score in all subtypes for discomfort. Good correlation was found between JADAS and CHAQ score for all JRAsubtypes except Enthesistis Related Arthritis (ERA) subtype.