title: Clinical and biochemical characteristics of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical and biochemical characteristics of children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at a tertiary care centre in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paediatric Rheumatology Clinic of The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, from January 2008 to December 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and laboratory profile and outcome of children less than 15 years of age attending the Paediatric Rheumatology Clinic of the Aga Khan University, Karachi with the diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis according to International League against Rheumatism were studied. These children were classified into different types of JIA; their clinical and laboratory characteristics, response to therapy and outcome was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty eight patients satisfying the criteria of International League against Rheumatism (ILAR) for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis were enrolled during the study period of four consecutive years, their age ranged from 9 months to 15 years. Mean age at onset was 6.45 ± 4.03 years while mean age at diagnosis was 7.60 ± 3.93 years. Polyarticular was the most predominant subtype with 37 (54%) patients, out of these, 9 (24%) were rheumatoid factor positive. An almost equal gender predisposition was observed. Fever and arthritis were the most common presenting symptoms, with only 2 patients presenting with uveitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinico-biochemical characteristics of JIA at the study centre showed a pattern distinct with early onset of disease, high frequency of polyarticular type and a higher rheumatoid factor (QRA) and ANA positivity in girls.
authors: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors: Shakeel
authors: S
authors: Ahmed
authors: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors: Syed Rehan
authors: SR
authors: Ali
authors: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors: Sidra
authors: S
authors: Ishaque
authors: Kinger Research Group International, Huntsville, Canada.
authors: Nabil
authors: N
authors: Sami
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor