“We also need to study the things that patients really want to know the answers to as well, like the potential impact of different diets,” says Dr. Onel. “That means working with families in our research group in the [Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance].”
Dr. Cron would also like to see studies analyzing whether initial treatment via bDMARDs would be beneficial not just in systemic JIA, but also in other JIA contexts.
“It’s a really emotionally laden illness, requiring injectable medications and lab tests, that affects young kids. We always are going to need to work as hard as we can to be as safe as we can while being as thoughtful as possible about impacts to quality of life,” concludes Dr. Onel.
Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD, is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine. She is a freelance medical and science writer living in Bloomington, Ind.
References
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- Onel KB, Horton DB, Lovell DJ, et al. 2021 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Recommendations for nonpharmacologic therapies, medication monitoring, immunizations, and imaging. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 Apr;74(4):505–520.
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- Angeles-Han ST, Ringold S, Beukelman T, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the screening, monitoring, and treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis–associated uveitis. Arthritis Care Res. 2019 Jun;71(6):703–716.
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- Johnson & Johnson. Janssen submits application seeking U.S. FDA approval of Stelara (ustekinumab) for the treatment of pediatric patients with juvenile psoriatic arthritis. 2021 Oct 8.
