II. Pathophysiology
- Rheumatoid disease in children
III. Types
-
Pauciarticular (4 or fewer joints involved)
- Age at presentation <8 years
- Involves large joints and is typically asymmetric
- Boys may develop Sacroiliitis
- Iridocyclitis may be present
-
Polyarticular (>4 joints involved)
- Age at presentation 1-6 or 11-16 years
- Involves small joints with symmetric involvement
- Rheumatoid Factor may be positive
- Positive Rheumatoid Factor confers similar presentation to Rheumatoid Arthritis in adults
- Systemic (Still's Disease)
- High daily Relapsing Fever >39 degrees persists over 2 weeks (most distinguishes this type from others)
- Polyarticular involvement with >4 joints involved
- Hepatomegaly and Splenomegaly
- Lymphadenopathy
- Pleural Effusion or Pericardial Effusion may be present
- Recurrent evanescent rash
- Faint salmon colored rash over trunk, palms and soles
IV. Symptoms
- Pediatric Limp (most common presentation)
- Pain is minimal compared to inflammatory signs
- Increasing pain has Negative Predictive Value for RA
V. Signs
- Similar to adult form of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Joint Swelling with warmth (not red and hot)
- Differences from Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Higher fever
- Rheumatoid Nodules are rare
- Pericarditis and valvulitis are more common
- Lymphadenopathy and Hepatosplenomegaly are common
- Arthritis interferes with bone growth
- Example: underdeveloped Mandible
- Uveitis most common juvenile RA eye disorder
- Occurs in up to 50% of Pauciarticular juvenile RA
- Highest risk if ANA positive and recent onset
- Asymptomatic in up to 80% of cases
- Delayed diagnosis risks Cataracts, Glaucoma, blind
- Ophthalmology should follow all with juvenile RA
- Occurs in up to 50% of Pauciarticular juvenile RA
VI. Differential Diagnosis
- Lyme Disease
- Leukemia
- Septic Arthritis
- Osteomyelitis
- Psoriasis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Streptococcal infection
- Vasculitis
VII. Labs (often non-diagnostic)
- Precautions
- Rheumatoid Factor and Antinuclear Antibody are negative in more than 80% of juvenile RA
-
Rheumatoid Factor
- Variably positive, often normal
-
Antinuclear Antibody
- May be associated with Uveitis (see above)
-
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- High ESR may suggest other diagnoses (e.g. infection)
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
-
Complete Blood Count
- Abnormal in systemic presentation
VIII. Imaging
- XRay affected joints
IX. Diagnosis (diagnosis of exclusion)
X. Management: General
- NSAIDs
- Methotrexate
- CD-20 Cytolytic Monoclonal Antibody (e.g. Rituxamab)
XI. Management: Exacerbation
- Obtain labs (normal findings do not exclude flare)
- Complete Blood Count with differential
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
- Associated serious conditions
- Infection
- CD-20 Cytolytic Monoclonal Antibody (e.g. Rituxamab) result in Immunocompromised state
- Labs as above and consider Lactic Acid and Blood Cultures
- Exclude serious infection and treat obvious causes
- Stop Monoclonal Antibody or other Immunosuppressants until infection resolves
- Septic Joint
- Febrile patient with red, hot joint and increased CRP and ESR
- Joint Aspiration if unclear diagnosis
- Macrophage activation syndrome
- Cytokine "storm" with similar appearance to Sepsis, with risk of DIC, Acute Renal Failure, Pancytopenia
- Treated with high dose pulse Corticosteroids and supportive care
- Infection
- Symptomatic flare management
- NSAIDs
- First-line treatment for mild to moderate Arthritis symptoms if not taken consistently
- Corticosteroids
- Second-line treatment for moderate to severe Arthritis symptoms, especially if NSAID refractory
- Prednisolone 1-2 mg/kg orally divided twice daily for 3-5 days
- Consider initial dose of Methylprednisolone 1-2 mg/kg IV if in Emergency Department
- Hospitalization indications
- Inability to ambulate
- Concurrent serious infection
- NSAIDs
XII. Prognosis
- Immunomodulating agents significantly improve longterm outcomes with less chronic Disability
XIII. References
- Claudius, Behar and Chang in Herbert (2016) EM:RAP 16(1): 11-2
- Claudius and Behar in Herbert (2012) EM:RAP-C3 2(8): 2
- Gowdie (2012) Pediatr Clin North Am 59(2):301-27 +PMID:22560572 [PubMed]
- Prince (2010) BMJ 341:c6434 +PMID:21131338 [PubMed]
- Schneider (2002) Rheum Dis Clin North Am 28:503-30 [PubMed]
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Related Studies
Definition (NCI) | An inflammatory disorder most often affecting children. It is characterized by the presence of arthritis, salmon-colored rash, spiking fevers, fatigue, and sore throats. |
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
MSH | D001171 |
ICD10 | M08.2 |
SnomedCT | 123246003, 156483006, 268052008, 287984007, 201796004, 86119004, 410794002 |
English | Juvenile Onset Still Disease, Juvenile Onset Stills Disease, Juvenile-Onset Still's Disease, Juvenile-Onset Stills Disease, Still Disease, Juvenile Onset, Still Disease, Juvenile-Onset, Still's Disease, Juvenile Onset, Still's Disease, Juvenile-Onset, Stills Disease, Juvenile-Onset, Juvenile-Onset Still Disease, STILL DISEASE JUVENILE ONSET, JUVENILE ONSET STILL DIS, JUVENILE ONSET STILLS DIS, STILLS DIS JUVENILE ONSET, Still's dis - juv rheum arthr, Still's disease - juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile onset Still's disease (diagnosis), juvenile Still's disease, juvenile onset Still's disease, Still Disease, Still's Disease, Still's disease NOS, disease still, still's disease, systemic onset jra, disease still's, disease stills, still disease, Still's disease - juvenile R.A, Still's disease (disorder), Still's disease - juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (disorder), Still's disease, Still's disease -RETIRED- |
French | Maladie de Still débutant dans l'enfance, Maladie de Still |
German | Still-Krankheit, juvenile Form, Still-Krankheit, Morbus Still, juvenile Form |
Czech | Stillova choroba dětí, Stillova choroba, začínající v dětství, Stillova nemoc |
Norwegian | Stills sykdom, Stills sykdom hos barn, Stills sykdom med debut hos barn |
Dutch | ziekte van Still, Still's disease |
Hungarian | Still-kór |
Italian | Malattia di Still, Malattia di Still a esordio giovanile, Morbo di Still |
Japanese | スチルビョウ, スチル病 |
Portuguese | Doença de Still, Doença de Still de Início Juvenil |
Spanish | Enfermedad de Still, enfermedad de Still - artritis reumatoide juvenil, enfermedad de Still - RETIRADO -, enfermedad de Still - RETIRADO - (concepto no activo), enfermedad de Still - artritis reumatoide juvenil (trastorno), enfermedad de Still, Enfermedad de Still de Inicio Juvenil |
Ontology: Juvenile Chronic Polyarthritis (C0409667)
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
ICD9 | 714.3 |
SnomedCT | 201803007, 7441009 |
English | Polyart onset juv chr arthrit, Polyarticular juven arthritis, Polyarticular juvenile arthritis, Polyarticular onset juvenile chronic arthritis, Juvenile Chronic Polyarthritis, Juvenile chronic polyarthritis, Polyarticular onset juvenile chronic arthritis (disorder), Juvenile chronic polyarthritis (disorder), Juvenile chronic polyarthritis, NOS |
Czech | Juvenilní chronická polyartritida |
Dutch | juveniele chronische polyartritis |
French | Polyarthrite chronique juvénile |
German | juvenile chronische Polyarthritis |
Hungarian | Juvenilis chronikus polyarthritis |
Italian | Poliartrite cronica giovanile |
Japanese | ジャクネンセイマンセイタハツカンセツエン, 若年性慢性多発関節炎 |
Portuguese | Poliartrite crónica juvenil |
Spanish | Poliartritis crónica juvenil, poliartritis crónica juvenil, poliartritis crónica juvenil (trastorno) |
Ontology: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, undifferentiated arthritis (C1444845)
Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
SnomedCT | 410802003 |
English | Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, undifferentiated arthritis (disorder), Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, undifferentiated arthritis |
Spanish | artritis idiopática juvenil, artritis indiferenciada (trastorno), artritis idiopática juvenil, artritis indiferenciada |