Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a chronic condition that causes joint inflammation in children. In some cases, the inflammation also affects the protective sheath surrounding the tendons, a condition known as tenosynovitis. Because tenosynovitis can be difficult to distinguish from regular joint swelling during a standard physical exam, specialized imaging tools like ultrasound are highly useful for an accurate diagnosis.
This observational study aims to determine how frequently tenosynovitis occurs in children and adolescents diagnosed with two specific subtypes of the disease: polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA.
Researchers will evaluate participants up to 16 years of age receiving care at Assiut University Children Hospital. During the study, patients will undergo a standard clinical assessment, which includes a medical history review and a thorough physical examination of their joints and tendons. Routine laboratory blood tests will also be reviewed. To precisely detect any hidden tendon inflammation, doctors will perform a musculoskeletal ultrasound, which is a safe, radiation-free imaging procedure, on major tendon and joint sites. By comparing the clinical exams with the ultrasound findings, researchers hope to improve the early recognition and management of tendon inflammation in pediatric JIA patients.
Children and adolescents (typically under 16 years of age at the time of onset) diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).
Patients of both genders.
Patients or their legal guardians who provide written informed consent/assent to participate in the study.
Patients more than 16 years of age.
Patients with arthritis secondary to other known causes (e.g., trauma, infectious arthritis, malignancy, or other systemic autoimmune diseases like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus).
Patients with a history of major orthopedic surgery at the examined entheseal sites.
Active infection or metabolic disease that may affect musculoskeletal structures.
The study population consists of children and adolescents under 16 years of age diagnosed with either the polyarticular or oligoarticular subtypes of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Participants will be recruited from the inpatient wards and the outpatient clinic of the Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology unit at Assiut University Children Hospital over a two-year period.
Cohort
Cross-sectional
Not listed
Number of Participants Diagnosed with Tenosynovitis
The presence of tenosynovitis will be evaluated using a clinical musculoskeletal examination and confirmed via high-resolution B-mode and Power Doppler musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US). Tenosynovitis is sonographically defined as the presence of hypoechoic or anechoic thickened tissue detected in two perpendicular planes, which may be accompanied by fluid within the tendon sheath and a positive Doppler signal.
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