Clinical Updates on Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Dear Colleagues,

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common pediatric rheumatic disorder and encompasses a group of heterogenous inflammatory joint conditions, each having different clinical signs, symptoms and, in some cases, pathogenetic mechanisms and genetic background. JIA is a leading cause of long-term disability in childhood and it can severely affect the quality of life of patients and their families. Chronic uveitis, one of JIA extra-articular complications, can impair visual function, whereas macrophage activation syndrome, which can complicate the systemic form of JIA, is a life-threatening condition.

In the last decades, impressive improvements in JIA management and long-term outcomes have been made, owing to the constant advances in translational research, the more widespread use of intra-articular glucocorticoids and the availability of a broad spectrum of effective systemic therapies. A treat-to-target approach should be adopted to achieve remission in JIA patients. Valid and reliable outcome measures have been developed and should be used to evaluate disease activity, together with feasible patient/parent-centered assessment tools. The incorporation of imaging techniques, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, into the evaluation of children with JIA might enforce the findings of clinical examination and lead to a better definition of the treatment response.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to unravel all these aspects by providing new evidence through original articles and highlighting up-to-date knowledge via literature reviews.

Dr. Roberta Naddei
Prof. Dr. Maria Alessio
Guest Editors

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