Pauciarticular juvenile arthritis.

Pauciarticular juvenile arthritis begins insidiously, involves no more than five joints, causes few systemic symptoms, and has a relatively mild course. The disease may recur at the same site or in previously uninvolved joints. It generally runs its course in four years. The authors believe that synovectomy is contraindicated in children suspected of having this mild form of arthritis unless joint destruction is evident or symptoms progress for more than three years.