Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children with wide variety in its clinical profile.

Objectives The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and management aspects of JIA among Tunisian children.

Methods This is a monocentric retrospective and observational study including children who met the ILAR criteria for the diagnosis of JIA. They were collected from the rheumatology department of Farhat Hached Hospital of Sousse in Tunisia.

Results Out of the 55 included children, 27 (49.1%) were boys and 28 (50.9%) were girls. The mean age was 13.6 years. The mean age of onset of JIA was 6.4 years [3 months-16 years]. The mean duration of JIA progression was 4.4 years. The predominant subtypes of JIA were the seronegative polyarticular form (21 cases, 38.2%), the seronegative oligoarticular form and juvenile spondyloarthritis (9 cases, 16.4% each). The other forms were: seropositive polyarthritis (7 cases, 12.7%), systemic onset JIA (SOJIA) and psoriatic arthritis (4 cases, 7.3% for each) and arthritis with enthesitis (1 case, 1.8%). Arthritis was present in all patients. Wrist followed by knee were the most affected joints in all subtypes. Fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and rash were exclusive to patients with SOJIA. Uveitis (2 cases, 3.6%) and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) positivity (1 case, 1.8%) were rare. Biological inflammatory syndrome was found in 65.5% of cases. The means of ESR and CRP were 42.4 mm/h and 28.8 mg/L respectively. Anemia was found in 56.4% of cases. Standard X rays revealed carpitis in 4 cases (7.2%) and bone erosions in 9 cases (16.4%). Coxitis was present in 30.9% of the patients. Concerning treatment, our patients received non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (61.8%), oral corticosteroids (67.3%), and pulse steroid therapy in 47.3% of cases. Methotrexate was used for 65.5% of patients. Twenty-four patients (41.8%) were treated with biologics. Delayed growth as a complication of the JIA was observed in 8 cases (14.5%). Twenty-three patients (41.8%) developed joint deformities.

Conclusion JIA has heterogeneous presentations with a challenging diagnosis in rheumatology practice. In our study, the seronegative polyarticular form was the most common subtype of JIA. Inflammatory syndrome, coxitis and deformities were frequent whereas uveitis and ANA positivity were rare findings in our population.

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NIL.

Acknowledgements: NIL.

Disclosure of Interests None Declared.

Keywords: Inflammatory arthritides, Descriptive Studies

DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2023-eular.4647