Screening of respiratory organs in patients with juvenile idiopatic arthritis

Abstract

Juvenile idiopatic arthritis (JIA) in childhood remains one of the most difficult among chronic noninfectious diseases due to the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment, as well as a progressive long course. Considering the presence of long-term chronic inflammation and the need for suppressive therapy (methotrexate, which has a toxic pneumotropic effect), comorbid conditions, such as interstitial organ affection, occur. Also, this category of patients is at risk for tuberculosis. In case of JIA, evaluation of the activity of the pathological process and the effectiveness of treatment is carried out on the basis of the severity of joints affection. The assessment of the condition and function of the lungs is often overlooked, since the lungs are not the subject of research and their defeat can be asymptomatic for a long time. However, the presence of severe lung lesions detected in the late stages can significantly worsen prognosis and limit therapeutic tactics in patients with JIA.