Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

New life sciences study results reported from A. Ravelli et al

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Library Library Home This article was published in Pain & Central Nervous System Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Radiographs of the wrist/hand of each patient were obtained at baseline (first observation) and then at 1, 3, 5, 7/8, and 10 years and were assessed independently by 2 pediatric rheumatologists according to different adaptations of the Sharp/van der Heijde method. To facilitate score assignment, the radiograph for each patient was compared with a bone age-related standard. Validation procedures included analysis of reliability, construct validity, and score progression over time. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement on longitudinal score values and score changes was good for all of the adapted scoring versions (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.85). Score changes over time were moderately to strongly correlated with the clinical indicators of long-term joint damage and with the amount of long-term radiographic damage as measured with the carpo:metacarpal ratio, thereby demonstrating good construct validity. A steady increase in scores over time was observed, with joint space narrowing being the most common form of damage throughout the disease course," wrote A. Ravelli and colleagues, .

The researchers concluded: "The inclusion of 5 new areas appeared to increase the overall construct validity of erosion scores. Our results show that the adapted versions of the Sharp/van der Heijde score are reliable and valid for the assessment of radiographic progression in patients with JIA."

Ravelli and colleagues published their study in Arthritis and Rheumatism (Adapted versions of the Sharp/van der Heijde score are reliable and valid for assessment of radiographic progression in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2007;56(9):3087-95).

For additional information, contact A. Ravelli, Universita degli Studi di Genoa and IRCCS, Istituto G Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.

Publisher contact information for the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism is: Wiley-Liss, Division John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: Italy, Genoa, Life Sciences, Pediatric, Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatism.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.