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Classification of juvenile spondyloarthritis: enthesitis-related arthritis and beyond

Abstract

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) refers to a spectrum of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases with overlapping features, which differ from other types of inflammatory arthritis in genetic predisposition, pathogenesis and outcome. SpA frequently involves the axial skeleton, and can result in abnormal bone formation with eventual ankylosis of the spine, resulting in substantial disability. SpA often begins as an 'undifferentiated' disease, the presentation of which differs in children and adults; most notably, spinal involvement is uncommon, while hip arthritis and enthesitis are frequently seen in juvenile-onset disease. Currently, the classification of SpA in adults and children is approached differently. Using the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) system for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, most childhood SpA is classified as enthesitis-related arthritis. However, in contrast to adult SpA classification, the presence of, or a family history of, psoriasis dictates a separate category of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. More importantly, the ILAR system does not specifically recognize the presence of axial disease in juvenile SpA. Resolution of these issues will improve communication and the transitioning of patients from pediatric to adult clinics, will facilitate research in genetics and pathogenesis, and will be particularly important in the evaluation of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and other biologic agents for early, axial SpA.

Key Points

  • Spondyloarthritis (SpA) in children is often undifferentiated at onset, and is less likely to involve the axial skeleton but more likely to affect hips and peripheral entheses in children than in adults

  • Historically, the classification of SpA has been handled differently in adults and children

  • Using the ILAR system, most juvenile SpA will be classified as enthesitis-related arthritis or undifferentiated arthritis, depending on whether psoriasis is present in the patient or their family

  • The ILAR system does not specifically address children who have SpA by fulfilling the criteria for ankylosing spondylitis, or who have coexisting conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease

  • The development and validation of criteria that recognize juvenile SpA with axial inflammation could be an important step in facilitating therapeutic trials in children

  • HLA-B27 is only one element of the complex genetics of ankylosing spondylitis, and additional susceptibility genes could be useful predictors of long-term outcome in children with early, undifferentiated SpA

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Figure 1: ASAS classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis.9,10
Figure 2: MRI demonstrating acute inflammation highly suggestive of sacroiliitis associated with spondyloarthropathy in a 12-year-old HLA-B27-positive male.
Figure 3: Hypothetical functional interactions between gene products associated with ankylosing spondylitis.

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Colbert, R. Classification of juvenile spondyloarthritis: enthesitis-related arthritis and beyond. Nat Rev Rheumatol 6, 477–485 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2010.103

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