PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY CLINIC POPULATIONS IN THE UNITED-STATES - RESULTS OF A 3 YEAR SURVEY

Objective, To describe the patient population referred to pediatric rh eumatology centers (PRC) across the US 1992-95; and to compare these r esults to data on regional PRC populations. Methods, A Pediatric Rheum atology Disease Registry was established in 1992, Data on new patients seen at 25 PRC across the US were submitted to the registry for a 36 month period from 1992 through 1995. Results. A total of 12,939 patien ts were submitted to the registry. Of these patients, 5245 (40.5%) had rheumatological diagnoses, Patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthriti s were the largest group of the patient population (2071 patients - 16 % of total diagnoses), There were 1568 patients with other forms of ch ildhood arthritis (12%), 1172 with collagen vascular diseases (9%), an d 434 with vasculitis (3.3%). Over 50% of the patients had nonrheumato logic diagnoses, including 1577 with idiopathic pain syndromes (12%). Other diagnoses included infections, orthopedic conditions, and malign ancies. Fourteen percent of the patients were not given a diagnosis at the time of the initial visit. Conclusion, PRC see a wide variety of patients. Although the majority do have rheumatologic conditions, over 50% of new patients have conditions not autoimmune in origin. Fourtee n percent of the patients cannot be diagnosed at the time of their fir st clinic visit, requiring time to see the evolution of their symptoms before a definitive diagnosis can be assigned.