Isolated digital swelling as the initial presentation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is an inflammatory condition that affects children under 16 years of age. The cases of 7 patients with isolated finger swelling as the initial manifestation of JRA are reviewed. In these children, the diagnosis was significantly delayed (t-test, p < .0076) for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of hand surgery (American ed.) Vol. 22; no. 4; p. 653
Main Authors Naidu, S H, Ostrov, B E, Pellegrini, Jr, V D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1997
Subjects
Arthritis, Juvenile - diagnosis
Arthritis, Juvenile - diagnostic imaging
Arthritis, Juvenile - pathology
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Fingers - diagnostic imaging
Fingers - pathology
Humans
Male
Radiography
Retrospective Studies
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Summary:Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is an inflammatory condition that affects children under 16 years of age. The cases of 7 patients with isolated finger swelling as the initial manifestation of JRA are reviewed. In these children, the diagnosis was significantly delayed (t-test, p < .0076) for up to 14 months (mean, 8 months) when compared to a mean of 3.4 months in the JRA patients with a typical onset. Of the patients with the initial presentation of isolated digital swelling, +/7 (57%) had disease that became polyarticular, whereas only 15% of the patients with the initial presentation of large-joint disease experienced progression to polyarticular disease (Fisher's exact test, p < .0307). This presentation of JRA should be recognized so that appropriate management can be instituted promptly.
ISSN:0363-5023
DOI:10.1016/S0363-5023(97)80124-4