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[Enthesopathy: a symptom seldom recognized by pediatricians]
F R Sztajnbok1, B E Bica, S K Oliveira
1Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Jornal De Pediatria
|December 20, 2003
Summary
Pediatric enthesopathy, an inflammation of tendon/ligament attachment sites, often indicates early spondyloarthropathies. Early identification in children and adolescents is crucial for timely treatment and management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Background:
- Entheses are crucial anatomical sites connecting musculoskeletal tissues to bone.
- Enthesopathy, or enthesitis, involves inflammation at these attachment sites, presenting as localized tenderness or pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To raise pediatrician awareness of enthesopathies in pediatric and adolescent populations.
- To review the clinical, laboratorial, and radiological aspects of enthesopathy, including diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of Medline and Lilacs databases (post-1981) and pediatric rheumatology textbooks (post-1990).
- Synthesis of information on enthesis structure, clinical presentation, diagnostic features, and therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- Enthesopathy in pediatric patients most frequently affects the limbs.
- It is often associated with the development of spondyloarthropathies.
- Less commonly, enthesopathy can occur in other inflammatory or non-inflammatory conditions.
Conclusions:
- Recognizing enthesopathies is vital for the early diagnosis of pediatric patients at risk for spondyloarthropathies.
- Early diagnosis facilitates prompt initiation of appropriate physical and pharmacological therapies.