Juvenile arthritis management in less resourced countries (JAMLess): consensus recommendations from the Cradle of Humankind.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent chronic rheumatic disease in children and young people (CYP) and a major cause of pain and disability. The vast majority of the world's children and their families live in less resourced countries (LRCs) and face significant socioeconomic and healthcare challenges. Current recommendations for standards of care and treatment for children with JIA do not consider children living in less resourced countries. In order to develop appropriate recommendations for the care of CYP with JIA in less resourced countries a meeting of experienced pediatric rheumatologists from less resourced countries was convened with additional input from a steering group of international pediatric rheumatologists with experience in developing recommendations and standards of care for JIA. Following a needs assessment survey of healthcare workers caring for CYP with JIA in LRC, a literature review was carried out and management recommendations formulated using Delphi technique and a final consensus conference. Responses from the needs assessment were received from 121/483 (25%) practitioners from 25/49 (51%) less resourced countries. From these responses, the initial 84 recommendations were refined and expanded through a series of 3 online Delphi rounds. A final list of 90 recommendations was proposed for evaluation. Evidence for each statement was reviewed, graded, and presented to the consensus group. The degree of consensus, level of agreement, and level of evidence for these recommendations are reported. Recommendations arrived at by consensus for CYP with JIA in less resourced countries cover 5 themes: (1) diagnosis, (2) referral and monitoring, (3) education and training, (4) advocacy and networks, and (5) research. Thirty-five statements were drafted. All but one statement achieved 100% consensus. The body of published evidence was small and the quality of evidence available for critical appraisal was low. Our recommendations offer novel insights and present consensus-based strategies for the management of JIA in less resourced countries. The emphasis on communicable and endemic diseases influencing the diagnosis and treatment of JIA serves as a valuable addition to existing JIA guidelines. With increasing globalization, these recommendations as a whole provide educational and clinical utility for clinicians worldwide. The low evidence base for our recommendations reflects a shortage of research specific to less resourced countries and serves as an impetus for further inquiry towards optimizing care for children with JIA around the world.

Juvenile dermatomyositis in South African children is characterised by frequent dystropic calcification: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To describe Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) that has rarely been reported in Sub-Saharan Africa in children. METHODS: Retrospective record review of children with JDM attending a tertiary hospital in South Africa. RESULTS: Twenty-one children (16 female, five male) with JDM had a mean (SD) age at presentation of 9.8 (3.3) years. Mean follow-up period was 2.6 (2.2) years. The commonest presenting features were skin rash (71%), muscle weakness (71%), inflammatory arthritis (42%) and calcinosis (29%). The cumulative frequency of calcinosis was 71%. Skin vasculitis was present in 9(43%), and 7 (33%) had Staphylococcus aureus infections. Calcinosis was strongly associated with vasculitis; 11/15 (73.3%) with calcinosis had vasculitis versus 0/6 without vasculitis (p = 0.003). Patients with calcinosis had significantly lower creatinine kinase (CK) levels compared to those without calcinosis [mean (SD) 272 U/L (401) vs. 2414 U/L (3201), respectively, p = 0.016]. All children with calcinosis had Staphylococcus aureus infection, but there was no significant difference in their duration of symptoms to presentation. Joint contractures, occurring in eight patients (38%), were associated with a significantly lower age at presentation [mean (SD) 6.8(2.8) vs. 11.6(2.1) years (no contractures) p = 0.0003], and significantly higher CRP and ESR levels. Three patients were lost to follow-up, two died. In the remaining 16 patients: 10 (47%) experienced remission, 2 relapsed and 4 persistent active disease. CONCLUSION: African children with JDM have increased vasculitic disease and high levels of calcinosis with low muscle enzymes, particularly CK. Younger children are at higher risk of contractures and disability. Patients are at high risk of developing Staphylococcus aureus infection. Rapid and aggressive therapy is necessary.

Improving the management of paediatric rheumatic diseases globally.

This article aims to review the various aspects of paediatric rheumatology that might be looked on as having a more global emphasis, the advances achieved through new technology and communication, the importance of education for both the medical community as well as the patient population, the epidemiologic variation of diseases and how population migration has brought potential changes as well as canvassing some of the considerable new challenges that still need to be addressed.

Polyarteritis nodosa presenting with a leg mass.

UNLABELLED: We report an unusual presentation of polyarteritis nodosa in a 2-y-old child. The child presented with a mass of the left leg adjacent to the calf, and the biopsy showed polyarteritis nodosa. Further investigations confirmed systemic features, and X-rays showed a periosteal reaction. CONCLUSION: Childhood polyarteritis nodosa may present with a lower limb inflammatory mass.