TUESDAY, Oct. 4, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Experts have issued the first guidelines for the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and they highlight the need for individualized patient care.
The guidelines, published in the Oct. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, were prepared by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
The researchers examined data from more than 279 clinical studies conducted between 1966 and 2005 to identify the most effective practices for treating the five most common forms of the disorder, which affects about one in every 1,000 children.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis -- also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis -- is characterized by joint inflammation, and typically occurs before the age of 16. A combination of genetic and environmental factors are likely the cause of the disease which, if left untreated, can lead to significant developmental damage to bones, joints and muscles.
There is no cure, but targeted treatment has been shown to improve symptoms. These new guidelines could help doctors better determine how to treat these patients.
"Treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA] has come a long way over the past 15 years. However, there has not been a set of treatment guidelines based on patient symptoms," principal investigator Dr. Philip D. Hashkes, a rheumatologist and immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a prepared statement.
"The guidelines in the JAMA study summarize the current evidence-based medical practices for JIA and provide physicians with a rational approach for treating the various subtypes of the disease. By examining a patient's symptoms physicians can determine the type of arthritis they have and what approach is most appropriate for treating their condition," Hashkes said.
More information
The Arthritis Foundation has more about juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
