What is the treatment and prognosis for oligoarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis?
Patients with persistent oligoarticular JIA are commonly treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and intraarticular steroids. Lidocaine is a commonly used local anesthetic that can be used to numb the skin prior to intraarticular steroid injection. Methotrexate is added for patients who do not respond to joint injection. A TNF-α inhibitor is added in the case of methotrexate failure.
Drug-free remission occurs in 69% of patients in the persistent oligoarticular subgroup, but only 37% of children in the extended oligoarticular subgroup. Chronic sequelae include leg length discrepancy, joint contractures, and blindness.