Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Rheumatoid Arthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Facioskeletal changes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Twilt M, Schulten AJ, Nicolaas P, Dülger A, van Suijlekom-Smit LW

Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Sp 1545, PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.twilt@erasmusmc.nl

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the facioskeletal morphology in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with and without temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement. METHODS: Eighty five patients were included. TMJ involvement was defined by orthopantomogram alterations. Lateral cephalograms were used to determine linear and angular measurements and occlusion. RESULTS: Patients regardless of their TMJ status had a 67% chance for retrognathia and a 52% chance for posterior rotation of the mandible and, respectively, 82% and 58% if TMJ involvement were present. Changes were not uniformly distributed among the different subtypes. CONCLUSION: Patients with JIA have an altered facial morphology, especially in the presence of TMJ involvement.

Published 15 May 2006 in Ann Rheum Dis, 65(6): 823-5.
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