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Assessment of Pulmonary Function in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study
Şeyda Doğantan1, Sema Nur Taşkın2, Cansu Yılmaz Yeğit3
1Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, 34480 İstanbul, Türkiye.
Insights
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) showed lower peak expiratory flow (PEF) but comparable overall pulmonary function to controls. Regular respiratory monitoring is advised for JIA patients to detect potential lung complications early.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Pulmonology
- Immunology
Background:
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting children, with potential for systemic complications including pulmonary involvement.
- Joint inflammation in JIA can impact overall health and may be associated with respiratory issues.
- Early identification of pulmonary involvement is crucial for comprehensive JIA management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare pulmonary function in pediatric patients diagnosed with JIA against a healthy control group.
- To identify specific respiratory abnormalities or indicators associated with JIA in children.
- To assess the relationship between disease activity and pulmonary function parameters in JIA.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cross-sectional study involving 70 children with JIA and 60 healthy controls (aged 6-17).
- Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry, measuring forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF).
- Oxygen saturation (SpO2) was also measured, and disease activity was considered.
Main Results:
- Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was significantly lower in the JIA group compared to controls (p=0.005).
- Children with moderate to high JIA disease activity exhibited significantly reduced FVC, FEV1, and FEF 25-75 compared to those with low activity (p<0.001).
- Enthesitis-related arthritis subtype showed higher FVC and FEV1; FVC and FEV1 correlated positively with BMI.
Conclusions:
- While PEF was lower in children with JIA, overall spirometric lung function was largely comparable between JIA patients and controls.
- The findings underscore the importance of regular pulmonary monitoring in children with JIA for early detection and management of respiratory complications.
- Pulmonary function may be influenced by disease activity and specific JIA subtypes.
Background/Objectives:
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation, potentially leading to pulmonary involvement. This study aimed to assess pulmonary function in children with JIA compared to controls and identify potential respiratory abnormalities associated with the disease.
Methods:
This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Pediatric Rheumatology, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, İstanbul, Türkiye, between July and October 2024. The study included 70 children with JIA and 60 healthy controls aged 6 to 17. Pulmonary function test parameters, such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and FEV1/FVC ratio, were measured using spirometry. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) was also measured.
Results:
There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the JIA and control groups (p > 0.05). FVC and FEV1 values were lower in the JIA group, though not significantly (p = 0.831 and p = 0.711). However, PEF was significantly lower in the JIA group than controls (p = 0.005). Children with moderate or high disease activity had significantly lower FVC, FEV1, and FEF 25-75 than those with low disease activity (p < 0.001). Enthesitis-related arthritis patients had higher FVC and FEV1 than other JIA subtypes (p < 0.05). FVC and FEV1 were positively correlated with BMI (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Although PEF values were significantly lower in children with JIA, overall pulmonary function was comparable between the groups. Regular pulmonary monitoring in JIA patients is recommended for early detection and management of respiratory complications.
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