Effect of preformed foot orthoses in reducing pain in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a multicentre randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of customized preformed foot orthoses on pain, quality of life, swollen and tender lower joints and foot and ankle disability in children with JIA. METHODS: Parallel group design. Children diagnosed with JIA were recruited from the three children's hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group receiving a standard flat innersole (sham) with no corrective modifications. The trial group were prescribed a preformed device that was customized based on biomechanical assessments. Pain was the primary outcome and was followed up to 12 months post intervention. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, foot and ankle disability and swollen and tender joints. A linear mixed model was used to assess the impact of the intervention at each time point. RESULTS: Sixty-six participants were recruited. Child-reported pain was reduced statistically and clinically significant at 4 weeks and 3 months post intervention in favour of the trial group. Statistical significance was not reached at 6 and 12-month follow-ups. Quality of life and foot and ankle disability were not statistically significant at any follow-up; however, tender midfoot and ankle joints were significantly reduced 6 months post intervention. CONCLUSION: Results of this clinical trial indicate customized preformed foot orthoses can be effective in reducing pain and tender joints in children with JIA exhibiting foot and ankle symptoms. Long-term efficacy of foot orthoses remains unclear. Overall, the trial intervention was safe, inexpensive and well tolerated by paediatric patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): 12616001082493.

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of juvenile systemic sclerosis.

Juvenile systemic sclerosis (JSSc) is a rare disease of childhood and currently no international consensus exists with regard to its assessment and treatment. This SHARE (Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe) initiative, based on expert opinion informed by the best available evidence, provides recommendations for the assessment and treatment of patients with JSSc with a view to improving their outcome. Experts focused attention not only on the skin assessment but also on the early signs of internal organ involvement whose proper treatment can significantly affect the long-term outcome. A score for disease severity is proposed in order to perform a structured assessment of outcome over time but a validation in a wider patient population is recommended. Finally, a stepwise treatment approach is proposed in order to unify the standard of care throughout Europe with the aim to reduce morbidity and mortality in this disease.

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of juvenile localised scleroderma.

In 2012, a European initiative called Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) was launched to optimise and disseminate diagnostic and management regimens in Europe for children and young adults with rheumatic diseases. Juvenile localised scleroderma (JLS) is a rare disease within the group of paediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD) and can lead to significant morbidity. Evidence-based guidelines are sparse and management is mostly based on physicians' experience. This study aims to provide recommendations for assessment and treatment of JLS. Recommendations were developed by an evidence-informed consensus process using the European League Against Rheumatism standard operating procedures. A committee was formed, mainly from Europe, and consisted of 15 experienced paediatric rheumatologists and two young fellows. Recommendations derived from a validated systematic literature review were evaluated by an online survey and subsequently discussed at two consensus meetings using a nominal group technique. Recommendations were accepted if ≥80% agreement was reached. In total, 1 overarching principle, 10 recommendations on assessment and 6 recommendations on therapy were accepted with ≥80% agreement among experts. Topics covered include assessment of skin and extracutaneous involvement and suggested treatment pathways. The SHARE initiative aims to identify best practices for treatment of patients suffering from PRDs. Within this remit, recommendations for the assessment and treatment of JLS have been formulated by an evidence-informed consensus process to produce a standard of care for patients with JLS throughout Europe.

Changing biological disease modifying treatment for paediatric uveitis in the real world.

IMPORTANCE: Paediatric uveitis is a severe sight-threatening uveitis due to disease progression and treatment failure. Biological agents are a promising new treatment. This study provides real-world data on their use from Sydney, Australia. BACKGROUND: Traditionally corticosteroids and non-biological immunosuppressive agents were used to treat paediatric uveitis, often with poor outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective, chart review over an 8-year period at a tertiary referral eye hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 27 paediatric uveitis patients treated with biological agents. METHODS: Chart review of demographic data and treatment outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treatment efficacy (corticosteroid-sparing effect, topical steroid cessation/reduction, reduction in systemic-steroid sparing agents, change in intraocular inflammation, visual acuity and central macular thickness); treatment failure; and adverse events. Data were collected at biological initiation, 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS: Biological therapy over 1 year was effective with prednisolone dose reduced to <5 mg/day in five of six patients (83%), number of systemic steroid-sparing agents was reduced to ≤1 in two of four patients (50%) and cessation of topical steroid achieved in 12/41 of eyes (29%). Improvement of anterior chamber cells by two grades occurred in 20/25 eyes (80%), improvement of logMAR to ≤0.3 occurred in 12/18 eyes (67%) and macular oedema decreased in 4/5 eyes (80%). Treatment failure occurred in six eyes (13.01%) and five patients (18.5%) developed an adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Biological therapy was effective in paediatric patients with uveitis. Intraocular inflammation improved with maintained visual acuity, systemic corticosteroid dose decreased and there was a low frequency of adverse events.

Fundamental movement skills, physical fitness and physical activity among Australian children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

AIM: To describe fundamental movement skills (FMS), physical fitness and level of physical activity among Australian children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and compare this with healthy peers. METHODS: Children aged 6-16 years with JIA were recruited from hospital rheumatology clinics and private rheumatology rooms in Sydney, Australia. All children attended an assessment day, where FMS were assessed by a senior paediatric physiotherapist, physical fitness was assessed using the multistage 20-metre shuttle run test, and physical activity and physical and psychosocial well-being were assessed with questionnaires. These results were compared with age- and gender-matched peers from the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey and the Health of Young Victorians Study using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-eight children with JIA participated in this study. There were no differences in the proportion of children who had mastered FMS between children with JIA and their healthy peers (P > 0.05). However, there was a trend for children with JIA to have poorer physical fitness and be less physically active than healthy peers. Parents of children with JIA indicated more physical and psychosocial impairments among their children and themselves compared with parents of healthy children (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in Australia to compare FMS, physical activity and fitness in children with JIA and their peers. While older children with JIA appear to have poorer physical fitness and physical activity levels than their peers, there is no difference in FMS.

Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group standards of care for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

This standards document outlines accepted standards of management for children, adolescents and young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in Australia. This document acknowledges that the chronic inflammatory arthritis conditions (JIA) in childhood are different diseases from inflammatory arthritis in adults and that specific expertise is required in the care of children with arthritis.

Recurrent fevers.

An 11-year-old girl had four episodes of fever in a year, lasting 7-10 days and associated with headache and neck stiffness. She had a long history of recurrent urticaria, usually preceding the fevers. There was also a history of vague pains in her knees and in the small joints of her hands. Her serum C-reactive protein was moderately raised at 41 g/L (normal <8). Her rheumatologist felt the association of recurrent fevers that lasted 7 or more days with headaches, arthralgia and recurrent urticaria suggested one of the periodic fever syndromes. Genetic testing confirmed she had a gene mutation consistent with one of tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome.

A feasibility study of the effect of intra-articular corticosteroid injection on isokinetic muscle strength in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

This study assessed the magnitude of changes in isokinetic muscle strength in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) before and after treatment with intra-articular corticosteroid injection and assessed the feasibility of a larger study of the same effect. Isokinetic dynamometry was used to measure peak knee extension and flexion torque in 12 children before and after treatment for unilateral knee arthritis. Extensor and flexor strength was reduced on the affected side before treatment (-0.56 Nm/kg, p = .004 and -0.24 Nm/kg, p = .02 respectively). Increases in extensor strength were observed at two weeks (p = .01) and twelve weeks postinjection (p = .03). Improvements at 6 weeks approached but did not reach statistical significance (p = .17). Improvements in flexor strength were not observed until 12 weeks postinjection (p = .03). Despite significant improvements in extensor strength, low peak knee extensor torque continued to be observed at 12 weeks (p = .01). Knee extensor and flexor strength is reduced in children with JIA with active arthritis and improves following intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Significant improvements in knee extensor and flexor strength were seen postinjection; however deficits in extensor strength were still evident at three months. Isokinetic dynamometry was safe and well tolerated in our sample of children with JIA with active arthritis.

Effect of customised preformed foot orthoses on gait parameters in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A multicentre randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can experience significant physical impairment of the lower extremity. Prolonged joint disease and symptoms may cause gait alterations such as reduced walking speed and increased plantar pressures in diseased areas of their feet. There is limited robust clinical trials investigating the effect of non-invasive mechanical therapies such as foot orthoses (FOs) on improving gait parameters in children with JIA. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are customised preformed FOs effective in improving gait parameters in children with JIA? METHODS: A multicentre, parallel design, single-blinded randomised clinical trial was used to assess the gait impacts of customised preformed FOs on children with JIA. Children with a diagnosis of JIA, exhibiting lower limb symptoms and aged 5-18 were eligible. The trial group received a low-density full length, Slimflex Simple device which was customised chair side and the control group received a sham device. Peak pressure and pressure time integrals were used as the main gait outcomes and were measured using portable Tekscan gait analysis technology at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Differences at each follow-up were assessed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: 66 participants were recruited. Customised preformed FOs were effective in altering plantar pressures in children with JIA versus a control device. Reductions of peak pressures and pressure time integrals in the heel, forefoot and 5th metatarsophalangeal joint were statistically significant in favour of the trial group. This was associated with statistically significant increased midfoot contact with the trial device at baseline, 3 and 6-month data collections. The trial intervention was safe and well accepted by participants, which is reflected in the high retention rate (92%). SIGNIFICANCE: Clinicians may prescribe customised preformed FOs in children with JIA to deflect pressure from painful joints and redistribute from high pressure areas such as the rearfoot and forefoot.

Physical Examination Tool for Swollen and Tender Lower Limb Joints in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Pilot Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children, with lower limb involvement highly prevalent. Recent evidence has highlighted the lack of specific lower limb physical examination (PE) tools for clinicians assisting the paediatric rheumatology team in identifying lower extremity disease in patients with JIA. Early clinical detection may lead to more prompt and targeted interventions to reduce lower limb problems in children with JIA. The aim of this pilot study is to provide preliminary data on the diagnostic accuracy of a lower limb PE tool in JIA. METHODS: Children with JIA requiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on their lower limb joints per their usual care were eligible. Lower limb joint counts were conducted clinically by a podiatrist and paediatric rheumatologist using the proposed twenty joint per side, PE tool. The PE were compared to MRI assessments completed by two independent paediatric radiologists. Data were analysed using agreement (observed, positive and negative) and Cohen's kappa with 95% CIs. RESULTS: Fifteen participants were recruited into the study in which 600 lower limb joints were clinically examined. Statistical analysis showed excellent inter-rater reliability between podiatrist and paediatric rheumatologist for both joint swelling and tenderness. Results of the intra-rater reliability of the podiatrist using the PE tool indicated excellent percentage agreements (98.5-100%) and substantial kappa coefficients (0.93-1). The inter-rater reliability between radiological assessments contrasted the PE results, showing low agreement and poor reliability. Comparisons between PE and MRI resulted in poor kappa coefficients and low agreement percentages. The most agreeable joint between MRI and PE was the ankle joint, while the worst performing joint was the sub-talar joint. CONCLUSION: Results indicate potential clinical reliability; however, the validity and diagnostic accuracy of the proposed PE tool remains unclear due to low kappa coefficients and inconsistent agreements between PE and MRI results. Further research will be required before the tool may be used in a clinical setting.

Patient and parent perspectives on transition from paediatric to adult healthcare in rheumatic diseases: an interview study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experiences, priorities, and needs of patients with rheumatic disease and their parents during transition from paediatric to adult healthcare. SETTING: Face-to-face and telephone semistructured interviews were conducted from December 2018 to September 2019 recruited from five hospital centres in Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen young people and 16 parents were interviewed. Young people were included if they were English speaking, aged 14-25 years, diagnosed with an inflammatory rheumatic disease (eg, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, panniculitis, familial Mediterranean fever) before 18 years of age. Young people were not included if they were diagnosed in the adult setting. RESULTS: We identified four themes with respective subthemes: avoid repeat of past disruption (maintain disease stability, preserve adjusted personal goals, protect social inclusion); encounter a daunting adult environment (serious and sombre mood, discredited and isolated identity, fear of a rigid system); establish therapeutic alliances with adult rheumatology providers (relinquish a trusting relationship, seek person-focused care, redefine personal-professional boundaries, reassurance of alternative medical supports, transferred trust to adult doctor) and negotiate patient autonomy (confidence in formerly gained independence, alleviate burden on patients, mediate parental anxiety). CONCLUSIONS: During transition, patients want to maintain disease stability, develop a relationship with their adult provider centralised on personal goals and access support networks. Strategies to comprehensively communicate information between providers, support self-management, and negotiate individualised goals for independence during transition planning may improve satisfaction, and health and treatment outcomes.

Functional Ability and Health-Related Quality of Life in Randomized Controlled Trials of Tocilizumab in Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disability in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or polyarticular JIA treated with tocilizumab. METHODS: Secondary analyses of two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of intravenous tocilizumab in children with active systemic JIA or polyarticular JIA were conducted. Patient-reported outcomes of disability (Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire [C-HAQ]), HRQoL (Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 50 [CHQ-P50], health concepts, physical summary score [CHQ-P50-PhS], psychosocial summary score [CHQ-P50-PsS]), pain, and well-being (100-mm visual analog scale [VAS]) were measured at weeks 0 and 12 for systemic JIA, weeks 16 and 40 for polyarticular JIA, and week 104 for both JIA subgroups. RESULTS: The trial included 112 patients with systemic JIA and 188 patients with polyarticular JIA. In patients with polyarticular JIA, the mean ± SD C-HAQ score decreased from 1.39 ± 0.74 at baseline to 0.67 ± 0.65 at week 16 (P < 0.001). In patients with systemic JIA, the mean ± SD CHQ-P50-PhS improved more with tocilizumab therapy than with placebo at week 12 (7.3 ± 10.2 versus 2.4 ± 10.6) (P < 0.05). Almost all mean CHQ-P50 health concept scores, CHQ-P50-PsS, and CHQ-P50-PhS improved (P ≤ 0.002) by week 104 for patients with systemic JIA. Patients with polyarticular JIA and patients with systemic JIA showed significant reductions in disability (mean ± SD C-HAQ scores of -1.09 ± 0.71 and -1.17 ± 0.80, respectively), improvements in well-being (mean ± SD well-being VAS scores of -43.76 ± 26.61 and -51.53 ± 23.57, respectively), and decreases in pain (mean ± SD pain VAS scores of -41.56 ± 31.06 and -51.26 ± 26.79, respectively) (P < 0.001); in patients with polyarticular JIA and patients with systemic JIA who were treated with tocilizumab, 92.9% of polyarticular JIA patients and 96.8% of systemic JIA patients reported no more than minimal pain (a score of ≤35 mm on the VAS) at week 104. CONCLUSION: Tocilizumab treatment was associated with significantly reduced disability and pain and improved HRQoL in patients with systemic JIA and polyarticular JIA.

Perinatal hypophosphatasia presenting as neonatal epileptic encephalopathy with abnormal neurotransmitter metabolism secondary to reduced co-factor pyridoxal-5'-phosphate availability.

We describe two neonates presenting with perinatal hypophosphatasia and severe epileptic encephalopathy resulting in death. Both had increased levels of urinary vanillactate, indicating functional deficiency of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, a pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme required for dopamine and serotonin biosynthesis. Clinical findings and results of subsequent metabolic investigations were consistent with secondary pyridoxine-deficient encephalopathy. These patients highlight the importance of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase in the neuronal PLP-dependent metabolism of neurotransmitters. In addition, the disturbance of PLP metabolism appears to underlie the predominant neurological presentation in our patients. We recommend the measurement of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) during the assessment of perinatal seizures.

Growth During Tocilizumab Therapy for Polyarticular-course Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: 2-year Data from a Phase III Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate growth in patients with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pcJIA) treated with tocilizumab (TCZ) for up to 2 years in a phase III trial. METHODS: Patients with pcJIA lasting at least 6 months and inadequate response to methotrexate received open-label TCZ intravenously every 4 weeks (randomly assigned to 8 or 10 mg/kg if they weighed < 30 kg; received 8 mg/kg if they weighed ≥ 30 kg) for 16 weeks. Patients with JIA American College of Rheumatology 30 response at Week 16 were randomly assigned to TCZ or placebo for 24 weeks, with an open-label extension through Week 104. Mean ± SD height velocity (cm/yr) and World Health Organization (WHO) height SD score (SDS) were measured in patients receiving ≥ 1 dose of TCZ who did not receive growth hormone and in patients whose baseline Tanner stage was ≤ 3. RESULTS: The study included 187 of 188 patients (99.5%) with mean WHO height SDS -0.5 ± 1.2, which was unrelated to age or disease duration (Spearman rank correlations r = 0.08 and r = -0.12, respectively). There were 123 patients at Tanner stage ≤ 3 at baseline, among whom 103 completed the study with 2 years of height SDS data. Mean height SDS increased from baseline to year 2 (+0.40, p < 0.0001). In 74 of 103 patients (72%), height SDS was greater than at baseline, and mean height velocity was 6.7 ± 2.0 cm/year. CONCLUSION: Among patients with pcJIA at Tanner stage ≤ 3 at baseline, 72% (74/103) had increased height SDS at the end of the study.

Effectiveness of preformed foot orthoses in reducing lower limb pain, swollen and tender joints and in improving quality of life and gait parameters in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomised controlled trial (Protocol).

BACKGROUND: Many children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis experience lower limb problems which may lead to physical disabilities significantly impacting on their quality of life and symptoms. Emerging evidence has identified the effective role of podiatry in the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, suggesting the clinical benefit of different orthotic therapies. METHODS: This study will be a parallel-group designed, multicentre, randomised controlled trial, aiming to recruit 66 children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis aged between 5 and 18 years. Those recruited will need to be diagnosed according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria, and present with lower limb joint pain, swelling and/or tenderness. Participants will be recruited from three outpatient hospital clinics in New South Wales, Australia. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive a trial or control intervention. The trial group will be prescribed a customised preformed foot orthoses; instead, the control group will receive a flat 1 mm insole with no corrective modifications. Primary outcome measure recorded will be pain. Secondary outcomes will be quality of life, foot disability, swollen and tender joint count and gait parameters (such as plantar pressures, walking speed, stance and swing time). The allocated foot orthoses will be worn for 12 months, with data collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months intervals. Group allocation will be concealed and all analyses will be carried out on an intention to treat. DISCUSSION: The purpose of this trial is to explore the efficacy of a cost-effective, non-invasive podiatric intervention that will be prescribed at the initial biomechanical consultation. This approach will promote early clinical intervention, which is the gold standard in paediatric rheumatology. Furthermore, this study has the potential to provide new evidence for the effectiveness of a mechanical intervention alone to reduce swollen and tender joints in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This clinical trial has been registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616001082493p. Ethics for this randomised controlled trial has been approved (16/09/21/4.03).

Lupus Means Sacrifices: Perspectives of Adolescents and Young Adults With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Disease activity, organ damage, and treatment burden are often substantial in children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), and the complex interplay among the developing child, parents, and peers makes effective management difficult. We aimed to describe the experiences and perspectives of adolescents and young adults diagnosed with juvenile-onset SLE to inform strategies for improving treatment and health outcomes. METHODS: Focus groups and face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted with 26 patients ages 14-26 years, from 5 Australian hospitals in 2013-2014. Focus groups and interview transcripts were thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: marring identity (misrepresented self, heightened self-consciousness, sense of isolation), restricting major life decisions (narrowed career options, threat to parenthood), multifaceted confusion and uncertainty (frustration at delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, needing age and culturally appropriate information, ambiguity about cause of symptoms, prognostic uncertainty, confronting transition to adult care), resentment of long-term treatment (restricting ambition, animosity toward medication use), and gaining resilience and coping capacities (desire for independence, developing self-reliance, recalibrating perceived disease severity, depending on family and friends, trusting physicians). CONCLUSION: Young patients with SLE perceive they have substantially limited physical and social capacities and restricted personal and career goals. Psychosocial and educational interventions targeted at improving confidence, self-efficacy, disease-related knowledge, and social support, and at resolving insecurities regarding patients' capacity for self-management may alleviate psychosocial distress and improve adherence, and thus optimize health outcomes of adolescents and young adults with SLE.

Two-year Efficacy and Safety of Etanercept in Pediatric Patients with Extended Oligoarthritis, Enthesitis-related Arthritis, or Psoriatic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to determine the 2-year clinical benefit and safety of etanercept (ETN) in children with the juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) categories of extended oligoarthritis (eoJIA), enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: CLIPPER was a 96-week, phase IIIb, open-label, multicenter study. Patients with eoJIA, ERA, or PsA received ETN 0.8 mg/kg once weekly (50 mg max) for up to 96 weeks. The proportions of patients reaching the JIA American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 30/50/70/90/100 and inactive disease responses at Week 96 were calculated. Adverse events (AE) were collected throughout the study (intention-to-treat sample). RESULTS: There were 127 patients (eoJIA n = 60, ERA n = 38, PsA n = 29) who received ≥ 1 dose of ETN. The mean disease duration was 31.6 (eoJIA), 23.0 (ERA), and 21.8 (PsA) months. At Week 96, JIA ACR 30/50/70/90/100/inactive disease responses (95% CI) were achieved by 84.3% (76.7, 90.1), 83.5% (75.8, 89.5), 78.7% (70.6, 85.5), 55.1% (46.0, 63.9), 45.7% (36.8, 54.7), and 27.6% (20.0, 36.2) of patients, respectively. The most common AE (no. events, events per 100 patient-yrs) overall were headache (23, 10.7), pyrexia (12, 5.6), and diarrhea (10, 4.6). The most common infections were upper respiratory tract infection (83, 38.6), pharyngitis (50, 23.2), gastroenteritis (22, 10.2), bronchitis (19, 8.8), and rhinitis (17, 7.9). No cases of malignancy, active tuberculosis, demyelinating disorders, or death were reported. CONCLUSION: Over 96 weeks of therapy, ETN demonstrated sustained efficacy at treating the clinical symptoms of all 3 JIA categories, with no major safety issues.

Thalidomide neuropathy in childhood.

Thalidomide was withdrawn from world markets in 1961 following recognition of its teratogenic effects. More recently, however, thalidomide treatment has been reintroduced to adult and paediatric practice for a variety of dermatologic, immunologic, rheumatologic and neoplastic disorders. Neuropathy is a significant side effect of thalidomide therapy, which may limit its clinical use. We report four cases of sensorimotor axonal neuropathy in children aged 10-15 years, treated with thalidomide for myxopapillary ependymoma, Crohn's disease and recurrent giant aphthous ulceration. Thalidomide neuropathy is often associated with proximal weakness and may progress even after discontinuation of treatment, in the phenomenon of 'coasting'. Children treated with thalidomide should undergo regular neurophysiologic studies in order to detect presymptomatic or progressive peripheral neuropathy.