POLYARTICULAR FORMS OF JUVENILE CHRONIC A RTHRITIS

Thirty-six cases of polyarticular juvenile chronic arthritis are revie wed. All the patients met the EULAR criteria developed in Oslo in 1977 . Mean incidence was 2.4 cases per year. Sixty per cent of patients we re at the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum. Duration of the dis ease prior to diagnosis exceeded one year in 52% of cases. Mean age wa s 10 years (range 2 to 15 years). Sex ratio was 1.8. The large periphe ral joints were affected in 77% of cases. The knee was the most common ly involved joint. Deformities were seen in 12 (33%) patients. The ery throcyte sedimentation rate was consistently elevated (mean 60 mm/h). Five patients (14%) had positive rheumatoid factor tests. Osteoporosis was the most prevalent factor tests. Osteoporosis was the most preval ent roentgenographic abnormality (60%). Salicylates were given as the first-line treatment, with beneficial effects in 85% of patients after four weeks. Complete remission was achieved in 40% of cases. Four pat ients with seropositive disease had an unfavourable outcome. Mean foll ow-up was five years (range one to nine years).