Long-term follow-up of 246 adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: functional outcome

To examine the clinical and functional outcome of adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) using the recent World Health Organization/International League Against Rheumatism (ILAR) classification.

Two hundred and fifty-nine adults with long-standing JIA (average disease duration 28.3 yr) were eligible for the study; 246 (95%) attended for an interview, clinical examination and notes review and 231 (89.2%) returned a comprehensive functional and psychosocial self-assessment questionnaire.

Of all patients, 43.3% had active arthritis clinically and 54.4% on laboratory measures (C-reactive protein). Clinical inflammation was less common in systemic-onset JIA. The percentage of all patients with severe disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire score >1.5) was 42.9. Uveitis occurred frequently in the oligoarticular-onset and enthesitis-related subsets. Over 30% of the extended oligoarticular group with uveitis developed glaucoma compared with none of the enthesitis group.

Adults with JIA often have significant levels of disability, often related to continuing active disease over prolonged periods. There is a clear need for good transition from paediatric to high-quality adult rheumatology care.