Publications by authors named "Sara Dalpra"
Objectives: To search for predictors of polyarticular extension in children with oligoarticular-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to develop a prediction model for an extended course.
Methods: The clinical charts of consecutive patients with oligoarticular-onset JIA and ≥2 years of disease duration were reviewed. Predictor variables included demographic data, number and type of affected joints, presence of iridocyclitis, laboratory tests including antinuclear antibodies, and therapeutic interventions in the first 6 months.
Objectives: To investigate the frequency of arthritis flare and factors affecting occurrence of flare in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who achieved inactive disease (ID) with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy.
Methods: A total of 217 patients were included. The modality of treatment discontinuation, time of MTX withdrawal, and disease course were examined retrospectively.
Background: To investigate the frequency of achievement of inactive disease (ID) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) treated with methotrexate (MTX) as the sole disease-modifyng antirheumatic (DMARD) therapy and to develop a prediction model for lack of attainment of ID.
Methods: The clinical charts of consecutive patients started with MTX as the sole DMARD between 2000 and 2013 were reviewed. Patient follow-up was censored at first episode of ID or, in case ID was not reached, at last follow-up visit or when a biologic DMARD was prescribed.
Article Synopsis
- A new hybrid muscle strength measure for juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) combines Manual Muscle Testing (MMT-8) and key elements from the Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale (CMAS) to improve comprehensiveness and feasibility.
- The hybrid measure (hMC) was validated with 810 JDM patients, demonstrating strong validity, reliability, and responsiveness to treatment changes.
- The hMC is useful for routine clinical care, but further testing is needed in other patient populations to confirm its effectiveness.
Objective: To develop and test a new multidimensional questionnaire for assessment of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in standard clinical care.
Methods: The Juvenile Arthritis Multidimensional Assessment Report (JAMAR) includes 15 parent or patient-centered measures or items that assess well-being, pain, functional status, health-related quality of life, morning stiffness, disease activity, disease status and course, joint disease, extraarticular symptoms, side effects of medications, therapeutic compliance, and satisfaction with illness outcome. The JAMAR is proposed for use as both a proxy-report and a patient self-report, with the suggested age range of 7-18 years for use as a self-report.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated if patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can be categorized differently despite having similar characteristics in the ILAR classification.
- The research focused on comparing ANA-positive patients to ANA-negative patients across various JIA categories, analyzing demographic and clinical features for over 971 patients collected over 22 years.
- Results showed ANA-positive patients tended to be younger, more female, and had distinct clinical features compared to ANA-negative patients, reinforcing the link between ANA positivity and certain disease characteristics.