Juvenile idiopathic oligoarthritis: analysis of 42 cases in Jordan

ABSTRACT

We conducted a retrospective chart review for all 42 patients, 9 males and 33 females, diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic oligoarthritis between July 1995 and October 2004 at the paediatric rheumatology clinic in King Hussein Medical Centre. Age range was 1.2- 15.2 years, mean 3.6 [standard deviation 2.4] years. Of those < 6 years, 80% were females. Most patients [64%] had monoarthritis; the knee was the most common joint affected [71%]. Two patients had developed extended oligoarthritis Nine [21%] had asymptomatic uveitis 6 females [P = 0.350], 7 [77%] < 3 years of age [P= 0.301].and 7 [77%] with antinuclear antibodies [ANAs] [P = 0.071]. Eighteen [43%] females were positive for ANAs. Most patients had undergone unnecessary, lengthy work- up and treatment before diagnosis