Isolated digital swelling as the initial presentation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is an inflammatory condition that affects children under 16 years of age. The cases of 7 patients with isolated finger swelling as the initial manifestation of JRA are reviewed. In these children, the diagnosis was significantly delayed (t-test, p < .0076) for up to 14 months (mean, 8 months) when compared to a mean of 3.4 months in the JRA patients with a typical onset. Of the patients with the initial presentation of isolated digital swelling, +/7 (57%) had disease that became polyarticular, whereas only 15% of the patients with the initial presentation of large-joint disease experienced progression to polyarticular disease (Fisher's exact test, p < .0307). This presentation of JRA should be recognized so that appropriate management can be instituted promptly.