Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common rheumatic disease in children. It is a chronic and degenerative disease, with an unknown etiology; that can leave multiple sequels in the pediatric population.

There are seven conditions defined by 2001 International League of Associations for Rheumatology: Systemic Arthritis, Oligoarthritis, Arthritis with positive rheumatoid factor or negative rheumatoid factor, enthesitis-related arthritis and undifferentiated arthritis; distinct in clinical, pathogenetic and evolutionary aspects. This disease is characterized by an alteration on the regulation of the innate immune system with a lack of autoreactive lymphocytes T and autoantibodies. Continuous inflammation stimulates the rapid and premature closure of the growth cartilage causing bone shortening.

To arrive at the diagnosis, it is only necessary to have a good medical history and physical exam, since there are no laboratory test sensitive enough to help us. Drugs such as methotrexate and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have come to modify the evolution of the disease and improve the quality of life of these patients.

Key words: Joints; Juvenile Arthritis; Synovial Fluid; Pediatrics