Emerging Role of joint ultrasound imaging in the Diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22814107Keywords:
juvenile idiopathic arthritis, musculoskeletal ultrasound, power Doppler, synovitis, pediatric rheumatologyAbstract
Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common chronic rheumatic disease of childhood, and early detection of synovitis matters because joint damage can accumulate silently while examination still appears reassuring.
Objective: This review synthesizes evidence on grey-scale and power Doppler ultrasound for diagnosing and monitoring juvenile idiopathic arthritis, its performance against examination and MRI, and its role in treat-to-target management.
Methods: We synthesized cohort studies, diagnostic accuracy studies, OMERACT consensus definitions, and monitoring trials addressing ultrasound detection of synovitis and erosion in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Findings: Ultrasound detects subclinical synovitis in many clinically inactive joints, power Doppler signal predicts flare and progression, and ultrasound-guided treat-to-target strategies achieve higher remission rates than examination-guided care, though age-related vascularity requires pediatric-specific interpretation.
Conclusions: Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a feasible, validated adjunct to clinical examination for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and routine use supported by standardized pediatric scoring is likely to improve early detection and long-term joint outcomes.
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