[Modern approach to treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis].

PURPOSE: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common form of arthritis in paediatric population. The aim of this study is to evaluate patients (pts) with JRA in correlation to age, sex, type of illness as well as treatment algorhytm and its efficacy.

WORK METHOD: During period time from 1.1.2002. till 31.12.2001. patients with JRA hospitalised at Paediatric Clinic of the Clinical Centre of University of Sarajevo were retrospectively studied. The soruce of research was histories of illness, clinical examinations and clinical findings during follow-up period.

WORK

RESULTS

according to our data girls were more often affected with JRA-23 patients (66%) age 2 to 6 years. The most frequent type of illness was monoarticular in 48.5%, polyarticular 34.2% and systemic in 14.3%. All pts were treated with first line therapy: nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agents combined with physio therapy which had satisfactory outcome, so 80% patients entered the remission zone of illness. Patients with systemic (14.3%) and polyarticular form with complications, received steroid therapy. One patient with systemic form was treated withmethotrexat. Duration of pts stay at Clinic differ from illness, 35% were cured and 5% non-cured patients. DISSCUSION: Treatment of JRA is a combination of medications, physio therapy and psycho therapy. The goals of treatment are to relive pain and inflammation, slow down or to prevent the destruction of joints and to restore use and function of affected joints in order to promote optimal child's growth and development, physicalactivity, social and emotional development.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with nonsteroid antireumatics in combination with physio therapy proved very successful in patents with JRA. Multidisciplinary approach is mandatory to achieve primary goal: to cure illness. It is necessary to start therapeutic algorhytm as early as possible in best patient's interest.