Incidence of Orofacial Manifestations of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis From Diagnosis to Adult Care Transition: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the cumulative incidences of orofacial conditions related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) between diagnosis in childhood to transition into adult care, and to identify features in JIA associated with TMJ involvement.

METHODS

A population-based cohort analysis was conducted of patients with JIA involving longitudinal data on orofacial health from 2000 to 2018. Regardless of TMJ status, the patients were referred to the Regional Specialist Craniofacial Clinic of Western Denmark for routine orofacial examinations. Data collection included information about disease-specific background characteristics, TMJ involvement, JIA-induced dentofacial deformity, and orofacial symptoms and dysfunction.

RESULTS

A total of 613 patients were followed up with a mean clinical TMJ observation time of 4.0 years. From JIA onset to transition into adult care, the cumulative incidence of patients with JIA involvement of the TMJ was 30.1%. Furthermore, 20.6% of the cohort had developed arthritis-induced dentofacial deformity. A substantial proportion of the cohort experienced several events with orofacial symptoms (23.5%) and dentofacial dysfunction (52%). Young age at diagnosis (<9 years), female gender, and antinuclear antibody positivity were significantly associated with TMJ involvement.

CONCLUSION

Orofacial signs and symptoms were frequent findings in children and adolescents with JIA. TMJ involvement was seen in 30.1% of the cohort; and 20.6% of the total cohort developed JIA-related dentofacial deformity before transition into adult care. This is the first population-based study in the era of available biologic treatments to document these frequent orofacial complications in children with JIA.