Musculoskeletal Complaints: When Should We Consult a Pediatric Rheumatologist?

This review aimed to summarize key points that might suggest rheumatologic diseases to physicians dealing with musculoskeletal  (MSK) complaints. Evaluation of a child presenting with MSK findings requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and systematic approach. In children with MSK complaints, detailed anamnesis, appropriate physical examination and joint examination, and the use of correct laboratory tests will be helpful for accurate diagnosis. The algorithm we have suggested for MSK complaints of children will be a guide for the physicians

Comparison of Treatment Options for Enthesitis-Related Arthritis with the Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index

Aim:The Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index (JSpADA) is the only disease activity score specifically validated for children with enthesitis-associated arthritis (ERA). It was developed to address the need for an effective measurement tool to assess disease activity in this population. We aimed to evaluate the clinical course of patients with ERA using JSpADA and to compare the effects of treatment modalities using JSpADA.Methods:This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 61 patients with ERA who were followed up between January 2020 and 2023. Clinical features, treatment options, and JSpADA were noted in electronic medical files. The effectiveness of treatment modalities was compared by JSpADA.Results:The median age of onset of the group was 10 [interquartile range (IQR), 9-15] years. The study cohort included three groups of patients: 1) DMARD received (n=34); 2) biologic drug received (n=14); 3) DMARD and biological combination received (n=13). Forty-three cases (70%) presented with peripheral arthritis, including enthesitis, whereas 18 (30%) patients had axial involvement. At disease onset, the median JSpADA scores were 2 (IQR, 2-3), 2.5 (IQR, 2-3), and 3.5 (IQR, 2.5-5) in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p=0.27). At the first year of follow-up, there was a significant improvement in the disease activity of groups 1 and 2 (p=0.02 and p=0.04). However, there was no significant reduction in JSpADA values in the third group.Conclusion:In patients with ERA, intermittent JSpADA evaluation during visits can guide the objective and accurate follow-up and treatment response of patients

Genotoxicity of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Objective. To assess the possible effects of both inflammation and the anti-tumor necrosis factor agents (anti-TNF) on DNA damage with a specific assay, and their effects on the repair capacity of DNA. Methods. From a group of 20 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 16 patients who completed the study and 16 control subjects were evaluated. DNA damage and repair capacity were analyzed by the comet assay at the level of peripheral lymphocytes before anti-TNF (etanercept) injections and on the 15th, 90th, and 180th days after the first injection. Results. The amount of damage as detected by the aforementioned assay was higher in patients with JIA compared with controls. On the 15th day after the initial anti-TNF injection, there was a decrease in the mean DNA tail length of JIA patients, however on the 90th day an increase was observed; thereafter, an upward trend was observed until the end of the study. JIA patients had a DNA repair capacity that was significantly less than that of controls. Conclusion. The results of the comet technique suggests that JIA patients already have increased basal DNA damage before anti-TNF therapy; they are more sensitive to the DNA damage produced by H 2O 2, and have a less efficient DNA repair system in comparison with control cells. After an initial improvement at 2 weeks, parameters of genotoxicity worsened, and DNA repair was further impaired 6 months after the addition of an anti-TNF agent to treatment. © 2010, American College of Rheumatology

Paravertebral and Retroperitoneal Vascular Tumour Presenting with Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon in Childhood, Diagnosed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is characterized by vascular tumour and consumptive coagulopathy with life-threatening thrombocytopenia, prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, hypofibrinogenemia, and the presence of high fibrin split products. We report a case of 3-year-old boy with local aggressive vascular lesions associated with KMP. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an extensive lesion at paravertebral and retroperitoneal regions that was infiltrating vertebrae. Although we did not get any response to steroid or propranolol treatment, partial response was observed radiologically with interferon-alpha treatment. Unfortunately, the patient died because of the uncontrolled consumptive coagulopathy that led to intracranial hemorrhage which was caused by huge knee hematoma after minor trauma

The Turkish Version of the Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR)

The Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR) is a new parent/patient reported outcome measure that enables a thorough assessment of the disease status in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We report the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the parent and patient versions of the JAMAR in the Turkish language. The reading comprehension of the questionnaire was tested in 10 JIA parents and patients. Each participating centre was asked to collect demographic, clinical data and the JAMAR in 100 consecutive JIA patients or all consecutive patients seen in a 6-month period and to administer the JAMAR to 100 healthy children and their parents. The statistical validation phase explored descriptive statistics and the psychometric issues of the JAMAR: the 3 Likert assumptions, floor/ceiling effects, internal consistency, Cronbach\u27s alpha, interscale correlations, test-retest reliability, and construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity). A total of 466 JIA patients (13.7% systemic, 40.6% oligoarticular, 22.5% RF negative poly-arthritis, and 23.2% other categories) and 93 healthy children were enrolled in four centres. The JAMAR components discriminated well-healthy subjects from JIA patients. All JAMAR components revealed good psychometric performances. In conclusion, the Turkish version of the JAMAR is a valid tool for the assessment of children with JIA and is suitable for use both in routine clinical practice and clinical research

Time to focus on outcome assessment tools for childhood vasculitis

Childhood systemic vasculitides are a group of rare diseases with multi-organ involvement and potentially devastating consequences. After establishment of new classification criteria (Ankara consensus conference in 2008), it is now time to establish measures for proper definition of activity and damage in childhood primary vasculitis. By comparison to adult vasculitis, there is no consensus for indices of activity and damage assessment in childhood vasculitis. Assessment of disease activity is likely to become a major area of interest in pediatric rheumatology in the near future. After defining the classification criteria for primary systemic childhood vasculitis, the next step was to perform a validation study using the original Birmingham vasculitis activity score as well as the disease extent index to measure disease activity in childhood vasculitis. Presently, there are efforts in place to develop a pediatric vasculitis activity score. This paper reviews the current understanding about the assessment tools (i.e., clinical features, laboratory tests, radiologic assessments, etc.) widely used for evaluation of the disease activity and damage status of the children with vasculitis

Proceedings of the 24th Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part three

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router.Publication status: PublishedHistory: collection 2017-09, epub 2017-09-0