PReS-FINAL-2160: Intestinal microbiome in polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a pilot study

Results Faeces of 8 (6 girls, 2 boys) children with polyarticular JIA, all rheumatoid factor negative were investigated and compared to 24 healthy controls. Anti-Nuclear Antibodies were positive in 3 patients. Median age at evaluation was 11.1 years (7.3-13.1), median period from start complaints to diagnosis was 7.1 months (4.4-13.2). Median ACR pedi scores were: VAS physician 47 mm(32-58), VAS patient well-being 32 mm(27-52), ESR 8 mm(2-9), active joint count 10(7-14), limited joint count 2 (0-4), CHAQ score 1.2 (0.4-1.7). One intra-articular steroid injection was given to each of two patients respectively 1 and 4 months prior to stool collection. Non Steroidal antiinflammatory Drugs (nsaids) were used by all patients at the time of evaluation. Median age of the healthy controls was 10.6 years (8.4-12.9). The median Simpsons’ diversity index within the phylum Firmicutes in controls and JIA was 0,88, and 0,83 respectively (p < 0,012). Diversity within the phyla Bacteriodetes and Proteobacteria did not differ between the 2 subgroups. By constructing a Pearson-correlation dendogram, no clustering was seen between the JIA group and the healthy controls on species-level (figure 2), a specific JIA associated microbiotal signature could not be identified.