RENAL INVOLVEMENT IN JUVENILE-CHRONIC-ART HRITIS (JCA)

Patients with Juvenile Chronic Arthritis (JCA) were studied retrospect ively and prospectively to verify the incidence of renal involvement. Retrospectively, we observed: slight increase of serum creatinine (7%) ; persistent mild proteinuria (1 +, 6%); persistent microhematuria (10 .7%) and persistent leukocyturia (6.3%). Prospectively, we observed: s erum creatinine slighltly increased (9.4%); persistent proteinuria gre ater than or equal to 1 + (5%); persistent hematuria (3%); persistent leukocyturia (9%) and transient hypercalciuria (14%; no cases of lithi asis). In both of studies, patients had normal glomerular function; no cases of amyloidosis were observed; the abnormalities were more frequ ently observed in sistemic JCA; drug treatment didnot seems to be rela ted to these pathological findings. Regular nephrological assessment s hould be carried out on these patients, especially in these affected b y sistemic JCA.