title: Course, Outcome and Complications in Children with Systemic Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the course, outcome and complications in a mono-centric cohort of 53 patients with systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (s-JIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In an observational study, 53 consecutive patients diagnosed with s-JIA on or before October 2009 were enrolled and followed up between October 2009 and September 2012. At each 6-12 weekly visit, clinical examination, laboratory investigations and details of on-going treatment were recorded. Disease course was classified as monocyclic, intermittent and persistent. At last visit, outcome was studied with respect to remission (Wallace criteria) and Steinbrocker functional classification. Juvenile Arthritis Damage Index (JADI) was measured on a subset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 53 patients analysed, the mean follow-up period was 5.5 ± 1.85 y, with a cumulative follow-up period of 291.5 patient-years. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.3 ± 3.4 y. Thirty-three patients suffered from disease and/or drug related complications. Infections were observed in 16 (30%) and macrophage activation syndrome in 5 (9.4%). Nine (17%) had a monocyclic course, 31 (58.5%) had an intermittent course and 13 (24.5%), a persistent course. At last visit, 9/9 patients of the monocyclic group, 17/31 in the intermittent group and 3/13 in the persistent group were in remission. At the end of the study, 96.2% of the index patients were Steinbrocker functional class I and II with the monocyclic group having the best functional outcome. JADI was performed on 20/53 patients. Nine had significant articular damage. The range of Juvenile arthritis damage index-articular (JADI-A) was 0-25/72 (median-6) and of Juvenile arthritis damage index-extra articular (JADI-EA) was 0-4/17 (median-1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcome of patients with s-JIA in a resource limited setting where early diagnosis, multidisciplinary care and availability of biologics are hurdles, is further altered by complications related to longstanding disease and over use of steroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, 400026, India.
authors.forename: Mansi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dewoolkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, AOU Meyer, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cimaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, 400026, India.
authors.forename: Pranav Raman
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Chickermane
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, 400026, India. rajukhubchandani@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Raju P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Khubchandani
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Complications; Course; Functional outcome; India; Systemic onset JIA