CORRELATES OF DISABLEMENT IN SYSTEMIC-ONSET JUVENILE CHRONIC ARTHRITIS - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

The impact of systemic onset JCA on functional outcome was studied in a multidimensional construct. Twenty-one patients were subjected to au xologic evaluation, a laboratory check, pulmonary and cardiac function tests, radiographic evaluation, joint count on tenderness, swelling a nd function, ADL, health assessment (CHAQ), and psychosocial evaluatio n. Six of 21 patients had active systemic disease. Restrictive pulmona ry function was found in 8/17 patients, 1/21 had pericarditis. Joint i mpairment was moderate. Functional limitations were mild. Self-esteem was positive. Parental report on functional limitation correlated sign ificantly;with joint impairment. Performance of daily activities corre lated strongly with perceived competence. Active inflammatory disease did not correlate with joint impairment and functional limitation. Pat ients with systemic onset JCA develop mild functional limitations, whi ch partially correlate with the more serious impairments. Pulmonary fu nction disorders are a common impairment. Active inflammatory disease might influence functional outcome, but there is no evidence that it i nfluences joint impairment outcome.