Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can cause structural damage. However, data on conventional radiography (CR) in JIA are scant.
To provide pragmatic guidelines on CR in each non-systemic JIA subtype.
A multidisciplinary task force of 16 French experts (rheumatologists, paediatricians, radiologists and one patient representative) formulated research questions on CR assessments in each non-systemic JIA subtype. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies providing detailed information on structural joint damage. Recommendations, based on the evidence found, were evaluated using two Delphi rounds and a review by an independent committee.
74 original articles were included. The task force developed four principles and 31 recommendations with grades ranging from B to D. The experts felt strongly that patients should be selected for CR based on the risk of structural damage, with routine CR of the hands and feet in rheumatoid factor-positive polyarticular JIA but not in oligoarticular non-extensive JIA.
• CR is a valuable imaging technique in selected indications. • CR is routinely recommended for peripheral joints, when damage risk is high. • CR is recommended according to the damage risk, depending on JIA subtype. • CR is not the first-line technique for imaging of the axial skeleton.
These first pragmatic recommendations on CR in JIA rely chiefly on expert opinion, given the dearth of scientific evidence. CR deserves to be viewed as a valuable tool in many situations in patients with JIA.