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sJIA is associated with marked joint disability and damage1–4

  • Joint damage in sJIA can be as destructive as adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA)2
    • However, radiographic progression is not often investigated in children5
  • Damage occurs early, within 2 years of disease onset in ~30% of patients, who develop joint space narrowing and erosions1

Systemic complications of sJIA include growth impairment and osteoporosis

  • sJIA is associated with stunted growth6–8
  • Patients with sJIA have a decrease in bone mass and an increased risk of fractures9
  • Risk of developing osteoporosis is increased in sJIA9

References:

  1. Lang BA, et al. Radiologic features of systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 1995; 22:168–173.
  2. van Rossum M, et al. Radiologic features in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48:507–515.
  3. Magni-Manzoni S, et al. Prognostic factors for radiographic progression, radiographic damage, and disability in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48:3509–3517.
  4. Oen K, et al. Radiologic outcome and its relationship to functional disability in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 2003; 30:832–840.
  5. Ravelli A. The time has come to include assessment of radiographic progression in juvenile idiopathic arthritis clinical trials. J Rheumatol 2008; 35:553–557.
  6. De Benedetti F, et al. Interleukin 6 causes growth impairment in transgenic mice through a decrease in insulin-like growth factor-I. J Clin Invest 1997; 99:643–650.
  7. Allen R, et al. Insulin-like growth factor and growth hormone secretion in juvenile chronic arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1991; 50:602–606.
  8. MacRae VE, et al. The pathophysiology of the growth plate in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Rheumatology 2006; 45:11–19.
  9. De Benedetti F, et al. Impaired skeletal development in interleukin-6-transgenic mice. Arthritis Rheum 2006; 54:3551–3563.
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