title: Musculoskeletal disorders in juvenile onset mixed connective tissue disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the occurrence of musculoskeletal involvement in patients with juvenile onset mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and their functional ability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients who fulfilled the Kasukawa criteria of MCTD, were subjected to a general orthopedic assessment, as well as to a specific examination of tenderness and swelling of joints, muscle strength, joint motion and alignment, radiographical evaluation, and on disability and discomfort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low indices were found on the modified Ritchie Articular Index (RI) (0.07) and the Fuchs Swelling Index (0.13). Mild to moderate indices were measured on the Joint Alignment and Motion Scale (JAM) (0.52) and on the Larsen Radiographic Evaluation Scales for the wrist, metacarpal, proximal and distal interphalangeal joints (L-RES) (1.40, 0.62, 0.31, 0.31). The mean pulp-thickness ratio was 22%, which is an indication for sclerodermic changes in the hands. Proximal muscle weakness was found in 10/13 patients (mainly in the upper extremity), distal muscle weakness was found in 12/13 patients. On the pediatric version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (C-HAQ), pain and discomfort scored 0.04, disability scored 0.46; those scores were considered to below. Between L-RES and JAM a significant correlation was found (0.74, 0.74 and 0.73; p < 0.01). Another significant correlation was found between the RI and the disability score of the HAQ (0.58; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sclerodermic changes as well as arthritic changes are of a benign character in our population of patients with juvenile onset MCTD.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Net
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Hoeven
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esseveld
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: de Wilde
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuis
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Helders
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001175:Arthrography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination