Juvenile spondyloarthropathies

This paper reviews the recent literature on the juvenile spondyloarthropath ies, Several case reports emphasized clinical characteristics of the spondl yoarthropathies including reactive arthritis, MR imaging seemed to enhance the detection of sacroiliitis in children with spondyloarthropathies. The p resence of different cytokines in various forms of juvenile arthritis inclu ding the juvenile spondyloarthropathies was investigated and suggested a ro le for the anti-inflammatory cytokines in milder disease, Evidence for the association of low-molecular-weight polypeptide gene polymorphism with susc eptibility to acute anterior uveitis was found in a Mexican population of p atients with spondyloarthropathies, including 80 with juvenile spondyloarth ropathy, A review of therapeutic use of sulfasalazine in children with chro nic arthritis, including those with juvenile spondyloarthropathy, concluded that it was safe and effective. Last, a study assessed aerobic fitness and physical activity in patients with juvenile spondyloarthropathy in remissi on and suggested a decline in physical fitness in older patients. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.