Mandibular condyle destruction in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

Materials and methods 293 consecutive patients (f = 198; m = 95) diagnosed 1995–2006 participated. Median JIA onset age was 6 1/2 yrs for girls and 8 yrs for boys. ILAR classification: persistent-oligoarticular (p-oligo) 26%, extended-oligoarticular (e-oligo) 24%, polyarticularRF(poly-) 22%, polyarticularRF+ (poly+) 1%, enthesitis-associated (ERA) 16%, psoriatic (pso) 6% and systemic (sys) 5%. Disease course, uveitis, ANA, IgM-RF and HLA-B27 was recorded. Due to small numbers sys, poly+ and pso were excluded from subtype analysis. Patients with polyand e-oligo were regarded as polyarticular course. Orthopantomographics was done in all. 79% had 2 or more radiographs. Condylar morphology grading was: 0 = normal; 1 = erosions of the surface; 2 = flattening; 3 = total destruction.