Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics and Follow Up Results of 121 Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory features of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) that followed up at Dicle University Hospital Department of Pediatrics. Totally, 121 (64 male, 57 female) children with the mean age of 10.0±4.1 (range, 1.5-1.8) years were included. The mean disease onset age was 7.9±3.8 (range, 0.8-15.4) years and the mean follow up period was 2.1±1.9 years. The percentages of JIA subtypes were as follows: Oligoarticular JIA 67 (55.4%), polyarticular 45 (37.2%), enthesitis related arthritis 5 (4.1%) and systemic JIA 4 (3.3%). The most common complaints were arthralgia (91.7%), fever (57.0%), fatigue (38.8%) and malaise (34.7%) and the most frequently involved joints were knee (74.4%), ankle (57.9) and wrist (48.8%). Complete remission were achieved in 28 (23.1%) and partial remission in 56 (46.3%), however 27 (21.3%) cases not responded to treatment satisfactorily. Significant risk factors for poor response to treatment with logistic regression were found as delay in treatment ≥6 months (Odds ratio, OR:11.1; p=0.006), existence of thrombocytosis (OR: 7.5; p=0.009) and early disease onset (age<5 years) (OR:18.1; p=0.004). In conclusion, JIA is a heterogeneous childhood disease with varied clinical manifestations. Early onset disease, delay in treatment and existence of thrombocytosis were the risk factors for an unfavorable outcome.