In a nutshell
This study investigated the rates of orofacial symptoms (OFS) and dentofacial deformities (DFD) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
They found that OFS and DFD rates were high in JIA.
Some background
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an inflammatory condition that affects children. JIA leads to painful swelling in the joints of the body. It can also affect the face and jaw. These are called orofacial symptoms (OFS). Temporomandibular joint arthritis (TMJA) is an OFS. TMJA can be painful and lead to difficulty in chewing food. It can also lead to dental (dentofacial) deformities (DFD). This includes jaw deformities.
The rate of TMJA in JIA is difficult to measure. JIA is usually assessed using a disease rating scale. Many of these scales do not meaure OFS. It is unclear how common OFS including DFD is in patients with JIA.
Methods & findings
This study included 351 patients with JIA. All patients underwent regular assessment for TMJA. This was performed regularly over a 3-year period. The rate of OFS was measured at each visit.
25% of patients reported OFS at the first clinic visit. At the final visit, 53% of patients reported OFS. Patients with enthesitis-related arthritis had the highest rate of OFS (75%). The lowest rate of OFS (25%) was seen in psoriatic arthritis patients. DFD rates were 35% after 3 years. The risk of DFD was related to OFS at baseline.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that OFS and DFD rates were high in JIA.
The fine print
Only 33% of the patients initially recruited were included in the trial. This could lead to bias in the study.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding JIA symptoms and their treatment, please consult with your physician.
Published By :
Arthritis Care & Research
Date :
Apr 11, 2019
