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Growth retardation and delayed puberty in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Wioleta Umławska1, Anna Prusek-Dudkiewicz

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Wrocław, Poland.

Archives of Medical Science : AMS
|February 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) impacts children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Rheumatology
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent joint disorder in children, presenting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
  • Clinical manifestations in JIA can be inconsistent, making management difficult.
  • Growth disturbances, including short stature and delayed puberty, are significant concerns in children with JIA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the impact of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis on growth and development in children.
  • To highlight the challenges in diagnosing and treating JIA, particularly concerning growth retardation.
  • To emphasize the importance of monitoring physical development and interdisciplinary research for improved treatment protocols.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and its effects on growth.
  • Analysis of growth patterns, including stature and puberty, in children with JIA.
  • Correlation of disease activity and corticosteroid treatment with growth outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Short stature in JIA is primarily linked to reduced lower extremity growth, with spinal growth rarely affected.
  • Children with JIA may exhibit infantile body proportions and delayed puberty.
  • A strong correlation exists between chronic arthritis activity and pubertal timing.

Conclusions:

  • Reducing growth retardation in JIA requires timely disease remission and minimized corticosteroid use.
  • Regular monitoring of physical development is crucial for children with JIA.
  • Advancing JIA treatment necessitates ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration among pediatricians, rheumatologists, and clinical anthropologists.

Keywords:
childrenchronic diseaseglucocorticosteroid therapypubertyshort stature

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