The Utility and Experience with Disease Biomarkers in Juvenile Onset Arthritis vs. Adult Onset Arthritis

Clinical and molecular characterization in a cohort of patients with progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia

Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPRD), a rare autosomal recessive syndrome, is a type of skeletal dysplasia associated with pain, stiffness, swelling of multiple joints, and the absence of destructive changes. PPRD occurs due to loss of function pathogenic variants in WISP3 (CCN6) gene, located on chromosome 6q22. In this study, 23 unrelated Egyptian PPRD patients were clinically diagnosed based on medical history, physical and radiological examinations, and laboratory investigations. Sequencing of the whole WISP3 (CCN6) exons and introns boundaries was carried out for all patients. A total of 11 different sequence variations were identified in the WISP3 (CCN6) gene, five of them were new pathogenic variants: the NM_003880.3: c.80T>A (p.L27*), c.161delG (p.C54fs*12), c.737T>C (p.Leu246Pro), c.347-1G>A (IVS3-1G>A), and c.376C>T (p.Q126*). The results of this study expand the spectrum of WISP3 (CCN6) pathogenic variants associated with PPRD. Clinical and genetic analysis is important for proper genetic counseling to curb this rare disorder in the families.

Salivary biomarkers in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and healthy age-matched controls: a prospective observational study

Monitoring the immune system's regulation and signaling using saliva could be of interest for clinicians and researchers. Saliva, a biofluid with close exchange with serum, is influenced by circadian variance and oral factors such as masticatory function. This study investigated the detectability and concentration of cytokines and chemokines in saliva in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as well as saliva flow and the influence of orofacial pain on saliva flow. Of the 60 participants (7-14 years old) enrolled, 30 had a diagnosis of JIA and active disease, and 30 were sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Demographic data and three validated questions regarding presence of orofacial pain and dysfunction were recorded. Stimulated whole saliva was collected and analyzed using a customized R&D bead-based immunoassay with 21 targeted biomarkers. Fourteen of these were detectable and showed similar levels in both children with JIA and controls: TNF-alpha, TNFRSF1B, MMP-2, MMP-3, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6R alpha, IL-8, S100A8, CCL2, CCL3, IL-10, CCL11, and CXCL9. In addition, there was no difference in salivary flow rate between groups, but there was an association between orofacial pain and reduced saliva flow rate for both groups.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol id: 2010/2089-31/2.

Hip Involvement in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Roadmap From Arthritis to Total Hip Arthroplasty or How Can We Prevent Hip Damage?

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of hip involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) from arthritis to hip osteoarthritis (HOA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA). Study Design: Seven hundred fifty-three patients aged 2-17 years with JIA were included in the study. The comparison analysis was performed between the following subgroups: (i) JIA without hip involvement (n = 600; 79.7%) vs. JIA with hip involvement without HOA (n = 105; 13.9%), (ii) JIA with hip involvement with HOA, but without THA (n = 32; 4.3%) and JIA with hip involvement with HOA and with THA (n = 16; 2.1%). Clinical, laboratory characteristics and treatment regimens compared. Results: Hip involvement was present in 20.3% of patients. HOA was present in 6.4% (12^*1,000 patient-years) of the entire JIA group and 31.4% of patients with hip involvement. Sixteen patients (2.1%; 4.0^*1,000 patient-years) required THA. The following factors were associated with HOA: sJIA (OR = 3.6, p = 0.008; HR = 3.0, p = 0.002), delayed remission (OR = 4.2, p = 0.004; HR = 1.4, p = 0.538), delay in biologic therapy initiation (OR = 7.5, p = 0.00001; HR = 6.7, p = 0.002), alkaline phosphatase <165 U\l (OR = 4.1, p = 0.0003; HR = 5.2, p = 0.000004), treatment with corticosteroids (CS) (OR = 2.6, p = 0.008; HR = 1.2, p = 0.670), cumulative corticosteroids >2,700 mg (OR = 4.3, p = 0.032; HR = 1.4, p = 0.527). The following factors were associated with THA: delay in biologic treatment initiation (OR = 1.04, p = 0.0001; HR = 9.1, p = 0.034), delayed hip involvement (OR = 5.2, p = 0.002; HR = 3.0, p = 0.044), and methylprednisolone pulse therapy (OR = 10.8, p = 0.0000001; HR = 5.6, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Both sJIA and systemic CS, impaired calcium-phosphorus metabolism, and delayed hip arthritis are associated with HOA development in JIA. HOA is considered to be a severe adverse event of CS treatment, especially delayed hip involvement.

Pediatric Clinical Endpoint and Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers: Limitations and Opportunities

Medical research in children typically lags behind that of adult research in both quantity and quality. The conduct of rigorous clinical trials in children can raise ethical concerns because of children's status as a 'vulnerable' population. Moreover, carrying out studies in pediatrics also requires logistical considerations that rarely occur with adult clinical trials. Due to the relatively smaller number of pediatric studies to support evidence-based medicine, the practice of medicine in children is far more reliant upon expert opinion than in adult medicine. Children are at risk of not receiving the same level of benefits from precision medicine research, which has flourished with new technologies capable of generating large amounts of data quickly at an individual level. Although progress has been made in pediatric pharmacokinetics, which has led to safer and more effective dosing, gaps in knowledge still exists when it comes to characterization of pediatric disease and differences in pharmacodynamic response between children and adults. This review highlights three specific therapeutic areas where biomarker development can enhance precision medicine in children: asthma, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and pain. These 'case studies' are meant to update the reader on biomarkers used currently in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, and their shortcomings within a pediatric context. Current research on surrogate endpoints and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in the above therapeutic areas will also be described. These cases highlight the current lack in pediatric specific surrogate endpoints and pharmacodynamic biomarkers, as well as the research presently being conducted to address these deficiencies. We finally briefly highlight other therapeutic areas where further research in pediatric surrogate endpoints and pharmacodynamic biomarkers can be impactful to the care of children.