The Polish version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).

We report herein the results of the cross-cultural adaptation and validation into the Polish language of the parent's version of two health related quality of life instruments. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) is a disease specific health instrument that measures functional ability in daily living activities in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) is a generic health instrument designed to capture the physical and psychosocial well-being of children independently from the underlying disease. The Polish CHAQ CHQ were fully validated with 1 forward and 1 backward translation. A total of 30 subjects were enrolled: 17 patients with JIA (35% systemic onset, 18% polyarticular onset, 29% extended oligoarticular subtype, and 18% persistent oligoarticular subtype) and 13 healthy children. The CHAQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic, polyarticular and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a higher degree of disability, pain, and a lower overall well-being when compared to their healthy peers. Also the CHQ clinically discriminated between healthy subjects and JIA patients, with the systemic onset, polyarticular onset and extended oligoarticular subtypes having a lower physical and psychosocial well-being when compared to their healthy peers. In conclusion the Polish versions of the CHAQ-CHQ are reliable, and valid tools for the functional, physical and psychosocial assessment of children with JIA.

[Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy of cystic fibrosis]. / Osteoartropatia przerostowa w przebiegu mukowiscydozy.

A 17-year-old male patient with cystic fibrosis, advanced lung disease and finger clubbings presented symmetrical chronic arthritis of the knee and ankle joints of unknown origin. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy diagnosed on the basis of the classic clinical features and anamnestic data was documented by the presence of periostosis of the tubular bones on radiographs. The considerably increased life expectancy of CF patients seems to mean the expansion of the list of diseases to be excluded when diagnosing JCA.

Internal organ involvement in juvenile connective tissue disease.

Using noninvasive investigative techniques, cardiac, pulmonary and gastrointestinal abnormalities were found in patients with all types of connective tissue diseases. Impedance rheography suggested impaired myocardial function. Abnormalities of pulmonary function included a decrease in diffusing lung capacity for CO (DL) values followed by restrictive ventilatory defects and mild alveolar hyperventilation. The results of endoscopic investigation of the gastrointestinal tract showed inflammatory changes. Ultrasonography revealed dyskinesis of the ducts of the gallbladder and some hepatic and pancreatic structural changes.

Antibody levels to enteric bacteria in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

In order to determine the immunologic status and possible susceptibility to bacterial infection in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), titer of hemagglutingating antibodies to E coli 055, E coli 086, common antigen, and Shigella polyvalent antigen were measured. Immunoglobulin G was the predominant antibody. IgA antibodies were found in higher titer in children with JRA. No significant differences were found between children with JRA do not have any deficit in antibody production to specific bacterial antigens, and any increased appearance of infection in these children is more probably due to deficiencies in cellular factors.

Serum immunoglobulin and complement interrelationships in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) were compared with a matched control group for the presence and levels of IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, IgD, C3, C4, and rheumatoid factor. In the majority of patients (86.1 to 94.4%) the distributions fell within the normal ranges of the control group. In JRA, older age appears to have a significant relationship for increased IgE levels. Levels of IgE and IgD do not appear to be related to the presence or activity of JRA. Significantly elevated levels of IgG, IgA, and C4 were found in active disease while elevated IgM levels are characteristic of the disease itself.