Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic arthropathy, in witch an inflammatory process may lead not only to fixed deformities but also to developmental disturbances, including growth inhibition. The study objective of the current study was to assess the relationship of the degree of physical development disturbances in children with JIA with disease duration, clinical type, the Steinbrocker class of the disease and the therapy applied.
Anthropometric parameters were analysed in 97 children aged 2-18 years (45 girls and 52 boys) with JIA. Bone densitometry (DXA) was performed in 51 children to assess the mineral mass of the whole skeleton (Total BMD) and L2-L4 vertebrae. Results Growth deficiency below -2.0 SDHS--Standard Deviation Height Score (group I) was found in 25 children (25.8%), with the predominance of older children (p<0.05) suffering from a polyarticular type. Children with considerable joint destruction (class III and IV according to Steinbrocker) exhibited lower height (p<0.002) as compared to the group of children without growth disorders (group II) and with early or moderate anatomical joint damage. Significant differences in BMI were noted between group I and II (16.05 and 18.12, respectively; p<0.02). A significant reduction in total bone mineral mass were found in group I as compared to group II (total BMD 0.736 g/cm2 and 0.922 g/cm2; p<0.05).
Growth deficiencies which strongly correlated with the degree of joint destruction and thus with inflammatory activity were found in 25% of the study children and adolescents with JIA. Growth retardation was accompanied by a significant bone mass reduction.