Topic Overview
Previously there were two traditional classifications of juvenile
arthritis: the European classification of juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and
the American classification of
(JRA). Because these
classifications broke down into different categories, European and American
research findings and treatment recommendations were hard to use
interchangeably.1
In an effort to
improve research and treatment, the International League Against Rheumatism has
devised a unifying set of international criteria, using the term "juvenile
idiopathic arthritis" (JIA). The word "idiopathic" means "of unknown cause."
First proposed in 1995 and later revised in 1997, this classification is
now used by most researchers and health professionals.
The table below summarizes the three
classification systems.
Classification systems for juvenile arthritis| Organization | Classification | Length of illness before diagnosis |
|---|
| International League Against
Rheumatism | Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
- Systemic JIA
- Polyarticular
JIA, RF-positive
- Polyarticular JIA,
RF-negative
- Oligoarticular JIA
- Persistent (1 to 4
joints)
- Extended (eventually affecting 5 or more joints)
- Psoriatic
arthritis
- Enthesis-related arthritis
- Other
arthritis (also called undifferentiated or unclassified arthritis)
| 6 weeks |
| American College of Rheumatology | Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)
- Systemic JRA
- Polyarticular
JRA (5 or more joints)
- Pauciarticular JRA (1 to 4 joints)
JRA does not include similar types of childhood
arthritis (juvenile ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile psoriatic
arthritis). | 6 weeks |
| European League Against Rheumatism |
Juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA)- Systemic JCA
- Polyarticular
JCA (5 or more joints, RF-negative)
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
(5 or more joints, RF-positive)
- Pauciarticular JCA (1 to 4
joints)
- Juvenile psoriatic arthritis
- Juvenile
ankylosing spondylitis
| 3 months |
Regardless of the classification, children who develop
symptoms before reaching 16 years of age are considered to have juvenile
arthritis.
References
Citations
Duffy CM, et al. (2005). Nomenclature and
classification in chronic childhood arthritis. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 52(2): 382–385.