PReS-FINAL-2077: Lung function evaluation in a juvenile idiopathic arthritis cohort

Introduction Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatologic disorder of childhood. It is a group of diseases characterized by chronic synovitis, associated with many extra-articular manifestations including pulmonary involvement, usually in the systemic type. Alterations of pulmonary function in JIA may be a complication of the underlying disease or related to treatment with methotrexate. Numerous reports have documented the association of rheumatoid arthritis and pulmonary abnormalities. Also, methotrexate may cause severe adverse pulmonary sideeffects in adults with rheumatoid arthritis. While respiratory function in adults with rheumatoid arthritis has been extensively investigated, few studies have been carried out in JIA children.