Predictors of disease course in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis

ABSTRACT Objectives The aim of this study was to identify potential predictors of the disease course of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) at the time of diagnosis. Methods This retrospective observational study was conducted in patients diagnosed with sJIA in our hospital between April 2009 and October 2023. The relationship between the disease course of sJIA patients and demographic, clinical, laboratory findings and complications was analysed. Results Of the 51 patients diagnosed with sJIA, 26 (51%) patients had monocyclic, 7 (13.7%) polycyclic, and 18 (35.2%) persistent disease course. The presence of arthritis, polyarticular involvement, and hip involvement at the time of diagnosis were associated with persistent disease course (P = .009, P = .003, P = .003). Serositis and higher white blood cell and neutrophil counts at the time of diagnosis were associated with a monocyclic disease course (P = .034, .002, .008). However, no significant correlation was found between macrophage activation syndrome and disease course (P = 1). Conclusions sJIA patients with polyarthritis and hip involvement at disease onset may develop a persistent course. Although macrophage activation syndrome is an important complication of sJIA, its effect on the course of the disease was not found in this study.