Current management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis affecting the craniovertebral junction

Reference values of four measures of craniocervical stability using upright dynamic magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE

To establish reference ranges for four most commonly used diagnostic measures of craniocervical instability (CCI) in three cervical sagittal positions. This necessitated development of a reliable measurement protocol using upright, dynamic MRI (udMRI), to determine differences in the extent of motion between positions, and whether age and sex correlate with these measures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Deidentified udMRIs of 50 adults, referred for reasons other than CCI, were captured at three positions (maximal flexion, maximal extension and neutral). Images were analyzed, providing measures of basion-axial interval, basion-axial angle, basion-dens interval (BDI) and the Grabb-Oakes line (GOL) for all three positions (12 measures per participant). All measures were independently recorded by a radiologist and neurosurgeon to determine their reliability. Descriptive statistics, correlations, paired and independent t-tests were used. Mean (± 2 SD) identified the reference range for all four measures at each craniocervical position.

RESULTS

The revised measurement protocol produced inter-rater reliability indices of 0.69-0.97 (moderate-excellent). Fifty adults' (50% male; mean age 41.2 years (± 9.7)) reference ranges for all twelve measures were reported. Except for the BDI and GOL when moving between neutral and full flexion, significant extents of movement were identified between the three craniocervical positions for all four measures (p ≤ 0.005). Only a minor effect of age was found.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to provide a rigorous standardized protocol for four diagnostic measures of CCI. Reference ranges are established at mid and ends of sagittal cervical range corresponding to where exacerbations of signs and symptoms are commonly reported.

Research progress in drug therapy of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

BACKGROUND

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children. With the gradual expansion of the incidence of JIA in the population, the pathogenesis and treatment of JIA were further explored and analyzed, and JIA has achieved some success in drug therapy.

DATA SOURCES

A systemic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register, and the EU Clinical Trials Register. Through the searching of clinical trials of JIA in recent years, we summarized the progress of the clinical treatment of JIA.

RESULTS

The main treatment drugs for JIA include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biological agents. So far, a variety of biological agents targeting the cytokines and receptors involved in its pathogenesis have been gradually approved for JIA in many countries. The application of biological agents in JIA showed good efficacy and safety, bringing unprecedented experience to children and adolescents with JIA.

CONCLUSIONS

The potential and advantages of biologic agents in the treatment of JIA are significant, and the application of biologic agents in the treatment of JIA will be more and more common.

Tocilizumab in management of refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 10 years of experience at tertiary university hospital

Background

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent pediatric rheumatic disorder. Progress in modalities of therapy improves the disease outcome. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) in the management of systemic (sJIA) and polyarticular (pJIA) in children who are resistant to conventional as well as other biological therapies. In this retrospective study, we selected JIA patients according to the International League of Association for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria and were treated with TCZ. Response to TCZ was assessed using Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score-10 (JADAS-10) and also outcomes were assessed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) remission criteria. Safety of the drug was assessed by documenting possibly related adverse effects (AE). Statistical analysis using SPSS version 25 with statistical significance is considered if p ≤ 0.05. We included 16 JIA patients aged ≤ 18 years but 2 of them were excluded as they developed severe reaction during the TCZ 1st dose, so finally, 14 patients were included.

Results

The median age of our patients was 12 years. Of these 14 patients, 9 (64.3%) had sJIA and 5 (35.7%) had pJIA. TCZ use led to significant improvement in the JADAS-10 from mean 22.4 (± 7.9) when it was initially assessed and then 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after TCZ initiation with means 5.7 (± 3.9), 4.4 (± 3.7), 3.5 (± 3.1), and 2.7 (± 2.2), (P = 0.001, 0.001, 0.005, 0.012), respectively. Five patients exhibited TCZ possibly expected side effects. Neutropenia and infusion-related reactions were the most frequent AE.

Conclusions

Tocilizumab seems to be generally effective and safe drug in the management of sJIA and pJIA especially in cases refractory to conventional as well as other biologic agents.