Pediatric Recurrent Pericarditis: Appropriateness of the Standard of Care and Response to IL-1 Blockade.

Objective: To analyze, in a cohort of pediatric patients with recurrent pericarditis undergoing anti-interleukin (IL)-1 treatment: the agent and dosing used as first-line treatment, the long-term efficacy of IL-1 blockers, the percentage of patients achieving a drug-free remission, and the presence of variables associated with drug-free remission.

Study Design: Data were collected from patients' charts. The annualized relapse rate (ARR) was used for evaluation of treatment efficacy, and bivariate logistic regression analysis was used for variables associated with drug-free remission.

Prevalence of cranial involvement in a cohort of Italian patients with chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis.

Objectives: Chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is a non-infectious inflammatory disease characterised by uni- or multi-focal bone lytic lesions. CNO mainly affects metaphysis of long bones, pelvis and shoulder girdle. Neurocranium lesions are extremely rare.

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis may be associated with renal disease and bisphosphonates are a good option for the majority of patients.

Aim: The aim of this Italian study was to describe the clinical features, treatment options and outcomes of a cohort of patients with chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Laboratory data, diagnostic imaging, histological features and clinical course are reported.

Efficacy of adalimumab in young children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and chronic uveitis: a case series.

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a relatively common chronic disease of childhood, and is associated with persistent morbidity and extra-articular complications, one of the most common being uveitis. The introduction of biologic therapies, particularly those blocking the inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor-α, provided a new treatment option for juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients who were refractory to standard therapy such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids and/or methotrexate.

Case Presentations: The first case was a 2-year-old girl with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitis who failed to respond to treatment with anti-inflammatories, low-dose corticosteroids and methotrexate, and had growth retardation.

[Side effects of anti-TNFalpha therapy in juvenile idiopathic arthritis].

Objectives: To report adverse events registered in our population affected by JIA and treated with anti-TNFalpha blockers.

Methods: Ninety-five patients were enrolled to be treated with Etanercept, median age 14 years (range 4-34); median duration of therapy 12 months (range 1-40). 19 patients were also treated with MTX (median dose 12.