title: Histopathological features of gastrointestinal mucosal biopsies in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
abstract: The association between inflammatory bowel disease and joint involvement is well established. There is a paucity of data describing histopathological features of the gut in relation to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
  
  
  
  We retrospectively identified 33 (21 male) children aged 3-16 y with JIA (11 with oligoarthritis, 5 with polyarthritis, 8 with systemic onset arthritis, 8 with enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), and 1 with psoriatic arthritis) with significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms who underwent upper and/or lower endoscopy. The histopathological findings were reviewed in addition to presence of autoantibodies and concomitant treatment.
  
  
  
  The most common GI indications for endoscopy were persistent abdominal pain (14/33 (42%)) and diarrhea (10/33 (30%)). Of the 33 children, 28 (85%) had gut mucosal inflammation, mostly affecting the colon (80%). Active inflammation of the gut was found in 5 of 28 (17%) children, and 15 of 28 (53%) children showed mild nonspecific inflammation. Eight patients (27%) had predominantly an eosinophilic infiltrate. Twenty-six patients had previously received treatment for JIA. There was a negative association with the use of immunomodulators and the presence of eosinophil inflammation.
  
  
  
  The majority of children with JIA and GI symptoms have histological evidence of mild nonspecific inflammation, but some having active colitis and prominent eosinophil infiltrate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.|Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.|Translational Research Centre for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sebire
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Fevronia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiparrissi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pilkington
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mamoun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elawad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000175:diagnosis; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies