Evaluation of pediatric rheumatologists' approach to rituximab use: a questionnaire study.

Unlabelled: Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 antigen on B cells and is used in various autoimmune disorders. In this study, we aimed to measure the awareness of pediatric rheumatologists about the use of RTX through a survey. Between February and March 2023, a 42-question survey was sent via email to pediatric rheumatology specialists in Turkey.

When should the use of biological agents be considered in persistent oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients?

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of the groups with and without bDMARDs added to the treatment of persistent oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients on methotrexate (MTX) and also to determine the predictors of adding bDMARDs to treatment. This study included 86 oligoarticular JIA patients on MTX. Patients were divided into two groups receiving MTX (n = 69) and MTX plus bDMARD (n = 17).

Assessment of quality of life and physical activity in patients with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in remission.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in remission in comparison with healthy peers and to determine the disease-related factors affecting PA levels. This study was conducted with 50 oligoarticular JIA patients in remission and 50 healthy peers between 9 and 14 years. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and treatments were noted from electronic medical records.

Does switching from coated colchicine to compressed colchicine improves treatment response in patients with familial Mediterranean fever?

Aim: To evaluate the treatment response to compressed colchicine tablets in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients with resistance or intolerance to coated colchicine. The secondary aim was to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of responders to compressed colchicine.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1574 pediatric patients with FMF treated at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on attacks in PFAPA syndrome patients with low vitamin D levels.

Background-aim: To evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the frequency and duration of attacks in patients of PFAPA syndrome with low vitamin D levels.

Methods: This retrospective study comprised PFAPA patients with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency between 2018 and 2023. The frequency and duration of PFAPA attacks before and after vitamin D supplementation were noted.

The importance of small joint involvement in oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship of small joint involvement with demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings and to determine its possible effects on prognosis.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in patients diagnosed with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oJIA) in the paediatric rheumatology department of Ankara City Hospital between April 2009 and September 2022. The relationship between small joint involvement and demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings and prognosis was investigated by statistical methods with the data recorded from the medical records of oJIA patients.

Deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 as an unrecognized cause of early-onset stroke and cranial nerve palsy.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings and prognosis of patients with adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency (DADA2) and to highlight the conditions that DADA2 should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with neurological findings.

Methods: A case series of six DADA2 patients was presented in this retrospective, descriptive study. Clinical and laboratory data, treatment protocols, and prognosis of the patients were recorded.

The role of indices in predicting disease severity and outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting disease severity, treatment, and prognosis in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Methods: This medical record review retrospectively evaluated the clinical and laboratory findings of 191 MIS-C patients followed in the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology at Ankara City Hospital, Turkey. The patients were grouped by disease severity: mild, moderate, and severe.

Predictors of relapse in patients with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in remission off medication.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors of relapse in patients with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oJIA) who achieved clinical remission off medication. This retrospective observational study was conducted between June 2009 and July 2022 in 126 patients with oJIA who achieved remission off medication. The relationships between relapse status and demographic, clinical and laboratory findings, and treatment details were evaluated using electronic medical records.

The Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index Is a Useful Tool in Enthesitis-Related Arthritis: Real-Life Data.

Objective: To compare enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) patients with active and inactive disease at 6 months and define baseline predictors for disease inactivity. In addition, to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of ERA patients and to identify the real-life impact of the Juvenile Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Index (JSpADA) in predicting active disease in ERA.

Methods: This medical record review study was conducted with 56 patients who were diagnosed with ERA at our clinic between June 2009 and June 2022.

The Effect of Clinical and Genetic Variables of Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients: Real Life Data.

Background: The Eurofever/the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO) classification criteria for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) include a combination of clinical symptoms and genotype. The pathogenicity of gene variants associated with FMF is categorized by the International Study Group for Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases (INSAID) classification criteria.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the real-life impact and usefulness of the Eurofever/PRINTO classification criteria and the INSAID classification criteria in patients with FMF and their impact on treatment management.

Biological Agent Switching in Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Tertiary Center Experience.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes and outcomes of switching biological agents in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients using biological agents and compare the characteristics of patients whose biological agents are switched and those whose are not.

Methods: This medical records review study was conducted with 128 patients who were diagnosed with JIA at our clinic between January 2009 and January 2022 and were receiving biologic agents. Factors affecting the biologic agent switching were investigated.

A case series of intracardiac thrombi and vascular involvement in pediatric Behçet's disease.

To evaluate the general characteristics of pediatric Behçet's disease (BD) patients with thrombus and to present the clinical features, treatment responses and prognosis of patients with intracardiac thrombus. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of 15 patients with thrombus among 85 pediatric BD patients followed in the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology were evaluated retrospectively. Of the 15 BD patients with thrombus, 12 (80%) were male, 3 (20%) were female.

Assessment of quality of life, school performance, and physical activity in adolescents with Familial Mediterranean fever.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate differences in school performance, school attendance, quality of life, and physical activity in adolescents with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) compared to healthy controls.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-nine patients with FMF and 154 healthy controls between 13 and 18 years were included in the study. Demographic, school performance (according to grade point average), school absenteeism, and type and frequency of exercise were recorded.

Clues for inflammatory diseases in the differential diagnosis of a child with sacroiliitis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which are inflammatory diseases that may develop sacroiliitis. Thus, it was aimed to reveal various findings that may indicate primary disease in patients with sacroiliitis.

Methods: Pediatric patients aged 6-18 years, who were being followed with a diagnosis of ERA (n = 62), FMF (n = 590), and IBD (n = 56) over the period 2013-2021 were included in the study.

Intussusception as a rare manifestation of immunoglobulin A vasculitis: Risk factors and treatment.

Aim: To identify the risk factors associated with intussusception in children with immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV)-gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement and to evaluate the outcomes of medical treatment and surgical intervention and the course of patients with intussusception.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 157 patients under 18 years of age who were followed up with the diagnosis of IgAV-GI tract involvement between January 2015 and September 2022. The characteristics of the patients who developed intussusception were evaluated in detail.

Age-related differences in the clinical phenotypes of Behçet's disease: The experience of two referral centres.

Objectives: Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem disease and frequently occurs during the second-fourth decades of life, although disease onset may be seen at any age. This study aimed to analyze the influence of the age of onset on clinical manifestations of BD.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed two cohorts (paediatric and adult) to determine the association between the age of onset and clinical features in BD.

Evaluation of the time of patients' admission to the tertiary pediatric rheumatology center for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background: To determine the interval between disease onset and admission to pediatric rheumatology clinic of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and, to identify the factors that affect the admission time (AT) to rheumatology center.

Methods: We designed a retrospective observational study in children with JIA. The study variables were age, gender, JIA subtype, acute phase reactants (APR), disease activity scales, presence of a pediatric rheumatologist, and distance to a pediatric rheumatology center.

Factors Associated with the Development of Thrombosis in Pediatric Behçet Disease.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of patients with pediatric Behçet disease (BD) with and without thrombosis to elucidate the factors that may contribute to the development of thrombosis.

Methods: This observational, descriptive, medical records review study included patients with BD (n = 85) who were diagnosed at age younger than 16 years at our clinic between 2010 and 2022. The demographic, clinical, and available laboratory data of patients with and without thrombosis were compared.

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in immunoglobulin A vasculitis with gastrointestinal tract involvement.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of patients who received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) with gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement, and to determine the differences between the groups that responded to IVIG and those that did not.

Methods: This retrospective study comprised 152 patients with IgAV between 2018 and 2022. Sixty-five patients (43%) had GI tract involvement.

Preadolescent-versus adolescent-onset immunoglobulin A vasculitis: The impact of age on prognosis.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with preadolescent- and adolescent-onset immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) and to determine whether age affects IgAV outcomes in adolescents.

Methods: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of 333 patients diagnosed with IgAV at the Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were classified into two groups: preadolescents (<10 years) and adolescents (10-19 years).

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: clinical presentation, management, and short- and long-term outcomes.

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of MIS-C patients in our hospital, to share our treatment approach, and to assess the outcomes of short- and long-term follow-up.

Methods: MIS-C patients who were admitted and treated in our hospital between July 2020 and July 2021 were evaluated. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and follow-up data were collected from patient records retrospectively.

Association of Pediatric Vasculitis Activity Score with immunoglobulin A vasculitis with nephritis.

Background: Immunoglobulin A vasculitis with nephritis (IgAVN) is the most serious complication affecting long-term prognosis. Understanding the risk factors and markers for the development of IgAVN is essential. The aim of this study is to identify IgAVN-associated factors and to evaluate the usability of Pediatric Vasculitis Activity Score (PVAS) at diagnosis as an early marker for the development of IgAVN.