Comparative assessment of inflammation in the knee joint of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

In this study the thermographic index [TI] of the knee joint was compared with the other parameters of joint inflammation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA]. Twenty patients with JRA were included in the study [70% females and 30% males]. The mean age of our patients was 9.9 + 2.5 years. Ten healthy children matching our cases as regardsex, age and weight served as a control group. All the patients were subjected to clinical assessment [oint score], laboratory investigations [ESR, CRP. HB%], synovial fluid analysis [TLC and glucose] and TI measurement. A significant correlation was observed between the joint score, ESR, HB% and TLC of the synovial fluid. Insignificant correlations were reported between the joint score and CRP, and between the TLC, CRP and HB%. The glucose level in the synovial fluid insignificantly correlated with all the other clinical and laboratory variables. The TI was found to be significantly correlated with the joint score, ESR, HB% and TLC of the synovial fluid while, it was found to be insignificantly correlated with the CRP and the glucose level of the synovial fluid. It is concluded that the TI is a good index for the assessment of joint activity in JRA with an equivalent efficacy to the other clinical and laboratory parameters of joint inflammation