Prevalence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in schoolchildren from the city of São Paulo, the largest city in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects children and adolescents. Its prevalence varies greatly from one study to another according to the population and methodology. Some tools may be helpful in screening for suspected cases. The aim of this study is determine the prevalence of JIA in children and adolescent students in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2016 to November 2017. It was based on a populational study envolving school children and adolescents from São Paulo, the largest city of Brazil. We randomly selected students under 16 years old from private schools with more than 1000 students who were evaluated through a specific questionnaire for screening suspected cases of chronic arthropathy (Early Diagnosis of Chronic Arthritis - 12 items - EDA-12) and subsequent anamnesis and rheumatologic physical examination for diagnostic confirmation. RESULTS: We contacted all 79 schools in the universe, of which 12(15, 18%) agreed to participate in the study. A total of 21,119 questionnaires were handed out to the parents. We obtained a response of 5,710 (27%). In 108 cases the EDA-12 score was considered positive (≥ 5). We examined all these 108 "suspicious" children. In 10 cases, the rheumatologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of arthritis, since the subjects presented a history and physical examination compatible with JIA. The prevalence of JIA in children and adolescents was 0.196% (95% CI = 0.104-0.371%). CONCLUSION: In this first Brazilian population study to evaluate the prevalence of JIA, we observed that the disease is relatively prevalent in our country (196 / 100.000 children), which is similar to that observed in other studies involving children from urban centers.

The profile and clinical outcomes of patients with renal involvement due to IgA vasculitis: is azathioprine a good option for treatment?

BACKGROUND: The Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) orIgA vasculitis is the most common vasculitis of childhood and may occur with renal involvement, with hematuria and / or proteinuria, and may cause severe and non-reversible sequelae. OBJECTIVES: To establish the profile of patients with renal involvement due to IgA vasculitisand to describe our experience with the use of azathioprine to treat patients with nephritis. METHODS: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from medical records of patients with IgA vasculitiswho attended the pediatric rheumatology unit between 1995 and 2017. Patients were separated into two groups based on whether or notthey weretreated with non-glucocorticoid immunosuppressants. RESULTS: From the178 patients with IgA vasculitis,nephritis was found in67 patients (37.6%), 13 of whom receivedtreatment with non-glucocorticoid immunosuppressants. Ten patients responded well to azathioprine and 1 patient to cyclosporine. Forty patients received oral glucocorticoids, whilst 16received intravenous glucocorticoids. CONCLUSION: Azathioprine may be beneficial in the treatment of IgA vasculitis with renal involvement.

Prevalence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in schoolchildren from the city of São Paulo, the largest city in Latin America

Abstract Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects children and adolescents. Its prevalence varies greatly from one study to another according to the population and methodology. Some tools may be helpful in screening for suspected cases. The aim of this study is determine the prevalence of JIA in children and adolescent students in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2016 to November 2017. It was based on a populational study envolving school children and adolescents from São Paulo, the largest city of Brazil. We randomly selected students under 16 years old from private schools with more than 1000 students who were evaluated through a specific questionnaire for screening suspected cases of chronic arthropathy (Early Diagnosis of Chronic Arthritis - 12 items - EDA-12) and subsequent anamnesis and rheumatologic physical examination for diagnostic confirmation. Results: We contacted all 79 schools in the universe, of which 12(15, 18%) agreed to participate in the study. A total of 21,119 questionnaires were handed out to the parents. We obtained a response of 5,710 (27%). In 108 cases the EDA-12 score was considered positive (≥ 5). We examined all these 108 suspicious" children. In 10 cases, the rheumatologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of arthritis, since the subjects presented a history and physical examination compatible with JIA. The prevalence of JIA in children and adolescents was 0.196% (95% CI = 0.1040.371%). Conclusion: In this first Brazilian population study to evaluate the prevalence of JIA, we observed that the disease is relatively prevalent in our country (196 / 100.000 children), which is similar to that observed in other studies involving children from urban centers.

The profile and clinical outcomes of patients with renal involvement due to IgA vasculitis: is azathioprine a good option for treatment?

Abstract Background: The Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) or IgA vasculitis is the most common vasculitis of childhood and may occur with renal involvement, with hematuria and / or proteinuria, and may cause severe and non-reversible sequelae. Objectives: To establish the profile of patients with renal involvement due to IgA vasculitisand to describe our experience with the use of azathioprine to treat patients with nephritis. Methods: Clinical data were retrospectively collected from medical records of patients with IgA vasculitiswho attended the pediatric rheumatology unit between 1995 and 2017. Patients were separated into two groups based on whether or notthey weretreated with non-glucocorticoid immunosuppressants. Results: From the178 patients with IgA vasculitis, nephritis was found in67 patients (37.6%), 13 of whom receivedtreatment with non-glucocorticoid immunosuppressants. Ten patients responded well to azathioprine and 1 patient to cyclosporine. Forty patients received oral glucocorticoids, whilst 16received intravenous glucocorticoids. Conclusion: Azathioprine may be beneficial in the treatment of IgA vasculitis with renal involvement.

Low-level laser therapy decreases renal interstitial fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). BACKGROUND DATA: Regardless of the etiology, CKD involves progressive widespread tissue fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and loss of kidney function. This process also occurs in kidney allograft. At present, effective therapies for this condition are lacking. We investigated the effects of LLLT on the interstitial fibrosis that occurs after experimental UUO in rats. METHODS: The occluded kidney of half of the 32 Wistar rats that underwent UUO received a single intraoperative dose of LLLT (AlGaAs laser, 780 nm, 22.5 J/cm(2), 30 mW, 0.75 W/cm(2), 30 sec on each of nine points). After 14 days, renal fibrosis was assessed by Sirius red staining under polarized light. Immunohistochemical analyses quantitated the renal tissue cells that expressed fibroblast (FSP-1) and myofibroblast (α-SMA) markers. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and Smad3. RESULTS: The UUO and LLLT animals had less fibrosis than the UUO animals, as well having decreased expression inflammatory and pro-fibrotic markers. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we showed that LLLT had a protective effect regarding renal interstitial fibrosis. It is conceivable that by attenuating inflammation, LLLT can prevent tubular activation and transdifferentiation, which are the two processes that mainly drive the renal fibrosis of the UUO model.