Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an idiopathic inflammatory disease primarily affecting joints with the synovium being the target tissue. The present study was conducted to assess role of power doppler sonography in the determination of knee involvement in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Materials & Methods: 45 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) of both genders were diagnosed as Pauciarticular, Polyarticular and systemic JIA. All subjects were subjected to full clinical examination and laboratory investigations. The knee joints were evaluated with plain radiography, US, and color doppler. The Juvenile Arthritis Functional Assessment Report (JAFAR) was performed for all patients. Results: There were 20 cases of Pauciarticular, 13 cases of Polyarticular and 12 cases of Systemic JIA. The mean morning stiffness in Pauciarticular, Polyarticular and Systemic JIA patients was 72.4 minutes, 56.4 minutes and 75.3 minutes, knee score was 3.1, 3.6 and 4.6, JAFAR score was 6.5, 10.2 and 12.7 and plain radiography score was 6.7, 6.2 and 7.3 respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). In Pauciarticular, Polyarticular and Systemic JIA, mean synovial thickness (cm) was 1.1, 0.7 and 0.9, effusion volume (ml) was 2.6, 3.2 and 4.8, loculation of effusion (n) was seen in 0, 3 and 6, C of medial condyle thickness (mm) was 3.4, 2.6 and 2.8 and C of lateral condyle thickness (mm) was 2.6, 2.7 and 2.9 and Cartilage IE was seen in 1, 4 and 6 respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Doppler sonography as a non-invasive, low-cost, and readily available tool for the assessment of articular involvement in knees of JIA patients.