Intra-articular corticosteroid therapy in oligoarticular juvenile arthritis: our clinical experience

Patients and methods 62 patients affected by oligoarticular JIA that referred to our Departments in the period between December 2004 and June 2008, were included in the study. 34 cases (54%) had persistent oligoarthritis and the only affected joints were knee (45%) and ankle (9%). The remaining patients presented extended oligoarthritis and the involved joints, in addition to knee and ankle, were elbow (3%), wrist (3%), interphalangeal (6%). Triamcinolone hexacetonide and Methylprednisolone acetate were used. Patients were followed up for three years. MTX was started only if NSAIDs and IAC failed. Clinical pattern and serologic data, such as ESR and ANAs, were evaluated in order to correlate them with treatment response to predict the outcome of IAC procedure.