Differences between leukemic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: To determine the clinical and laboratory differences between leukemic arthritis (LA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) at the onset of the disease.

Material And Methods: Patients under 16 years of age, both genders, who presented for the first time to the pediatric rheumatology service with a diagnosis of probable JIA, with arthritis and without peripheral blood blasts, in which the final diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or JIA. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were compared, chi-square and relative risk were used for categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney U and T-test for the comparison of means between groups.

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome in pediatrics: beyond thrombosis. Report of 32 cases and review of the evidence.

Objective: Describe the frequency of thrombotic and non-thrombotic clinical manifestations, laboratory, treatment and prognosis in patients with pediatric primary antiphospholipid syndrome.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in patients with a diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, under 16 years of age, under follow-up by the pediatric rheumatology service of the General Hospital, National Medical Center, La Raza, from January 2013 to December 2020. The antiphospholipid syndrome was defined when it met the laboratory criteria of the Sidney criteria and the presence of thrombosis or non-criteria manifestations of the disease (hematological, neurological, cutaneous, renal, cardiac or pulmonary).

Pulmonary involvement in patients with juvenile systemic sclerosis.

Background: Pulmonary involvement in juvenile systemic sclerosis (JSSc) is rare in children and contributes to morbimortality. This study aimed to describe the pulmonary function and clinical, radiologic, and tomographic findings in JSSc.

Methods: Patients with JSSc between 5-14 years of age were included.

Shrinking lung syndrome in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To describe clinical, radiological and treatment characteristics in pediatric patients with SLS.

Material And Methods: This is a descriptive and retrospective study in patients under 16 years old with the diagnosis of SLE complicated by SLS at the General Hospital. National Medical Center La Raza.

Development and Testing of Reduced Versions of the Manual Muscle Test-8 in Juvenile Dermatomyositis.

Objective: To develop and test shortened versions of the Manual Muscle Test-8 (MMT-8) in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).

Methods: Construction of reduced tools was based on a retrospective analysis of individual scores of MMT-8 muscle groups in 3 multinational datasets. The 4 and 6 most frequently impaired muscle groups were included in MMT-4 and MMT-6, respectively.

Frequency of auditory involvement and of associated factors in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of arthritis in children under 16 years of age for more than 6 weeks in the absence of any other known cause. The extra-articular manifestations, especially in the audiovestibular system, are related to the involvement of the joints of the ossicular chain as a result of the inflammatory process in the synovium. Previous clinical studies in pediatric patients have shown conductive or sensorineural hearing loss.

Tjalma syndrome (pseudo-pseudo Meigs') as initial manifestation of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Tjalma syndrome or pseudo-pseudo Meigs' syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by pleural effusion, ascites and elevated CA-125 with no associated benign or malignant ovarian tumor in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Tjalma described the first case of a patient with SLE, pleural effusion, ascites and elevated CA-125. We report the first case in a 14-year old patient who presented with ascites and pleural effusion refractory to treatment and elevated CA-125, in the absence of an ovarian tumor, that warranted aggressive management.

Prednisone versus prednisone plus ciclosporin versus prednisone plus methotrexate in new-onset juvenile dermatomyositis: a randomised trial.

Background: Most data for treatment of dermatomyositis and juvenile dermatomyositis are from anecdotal, non-randomised case series. We aimed to compare, in a randomised trial, the efficacy and safety of prednisone alone with that of prednisone plus either methotrexate or ciclosporin in children with new-onset juvenile dermatomyositis.

Methods: We did a randomised trial at 54 centres in 22 countries.

Macrophage activation syndrome as the initial manifestation of severe juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Favorable response to cyclophosphamide.

The macrophage activation syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal complication of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. This is a clinicopathological entity characterized by activation of histiocytes with prominent hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and other reticuloendothelial systems. In patients with lupus it may mimic an exacerbation of the disease or infection.

Impact of involvement of individual joint groups on subdimensions of functional ability scales in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the influence of arthritis in individual joint groups on subdimensions of functional ability questionnaires in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: 206 patients were included who had the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ) and the Juvenile Arthritis Functionality Scale (JAFS) completed simultaneously by a parent and received a detailed joint assessment. In each patient, joint involvement (defined as presence of swelling, pain on motion/tenderness and/or restricted motion) was classified in 3 topographic patterns: Pattern 1 (hip, knee, ankle, subtalar and foot joints); Pattern 2 (wrist and hand joints); Pattern 3 (elbow, shoulder, cervical spine and temporomandibular joints).

Methotrexate improves the health-related quality of life of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: To examine the change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its determinants in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) treated with methotrexate (MTX).

Methods: Patients were extracted from the PRINTO clinical trial which aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of MTX administered in standard, intermediate or higher doses (10, 15 and 30 mg/m(2)/week respectively). Children with polyarticular-course JIA, who were less than 18 years and had a complete HRQOL assessment were included.

Development and validation of a new short and simple measure of physical function for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To develop and validate a new short and simple measure of physical function in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: The Juvenile Arthritis Functionality Scale (JAFS) is a 15-item questionnaire that explores physical function in 3 body areas (lower limbs, hand/wrist, and upper segment). Validation of the Italian version of the instrument was accomplished by evaluating 211 consecutive JIA patients ages 2.

Health-related quality of life of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis coming from 3 different geographic areas. The PRINTO multinational quality of life cohort study.

Objectives: To compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) and to identify clinical determinants for poor HRQL of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) coming from three geographic areas.

Methods: The HRQL was assessed through the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). A total of 30 countries were included grouped in three geographic areas: 16 countries in Western Europe; 10 in Eastern Europe; and four in Latin America.