Clinical Rheumatology

, Volume 31, Issue 6, pp 967–971 | Cite as

Excess of adiposity in female children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

  • Michelle Cavalcante Caetano
  • Roseli Oselka Saccardo Sarni
  • Maria Teresa Lemos Terreri
  • Thaís Tobaruela Ortiz
  • Marcelo Pinheiro
  • Fabíola Isabel Suano de Souza
  • Maria Odete Hilário
Original Article
First Online:
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Revised:
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Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the body composition (BC) of female children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). A cross-sectional, controlled study was performed to compare the BC between 42 JIA girls and 35 healthy controls, matched for age and gender. Weight and height were used to calculate body mass index (BMI), classified as a Z-score (Z-BMI). BC was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; DPX-L, Lunar). The fat mass index (FMI) was calculated as the ratio between total fat mass and height squared (kilograms per square metre). The lean mass index (LMI) was calculated as the ratio between total lean mass and height squared (kilograms per square metre). In JIA patients, the median of age was 13 years (6–19) and median disease duration was 84 months (10.0–215.0). The main disease subtype was polyarticular arthritis (54.8%). We observed that 61.9% of patients had normal Z-BMI. JIA girls had higher median Z-BMI scores (0.17 vs. −0.48, p = 0.034), total body fat percentages (26.5% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.001), truncal fat (4.52 vs. 2.32, p = 0.011) and FMI (4.83 vs. 2.23, p < 0.001). For LMI, there was no difference between JIA girls and controls (13.45 vs. 12.45, p = 0.212). We did not find association between FMI and age, disease subtype, number of limited and/or active joints, months since diagnosis and use of corticosteroids or methotrexate. BC changes found in JIA girls, such as fatness and adiposity, indicate a potentially greater risk for developing hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. These findings emphasise the importance of evaluating nutritional status and body composition to minimise the emergence of chronic diseases later in life.

Keywords

Adiposity Body composition Body mass index Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis 
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Notes

Disclosures

Michelle Caetano, Roseli Sarni, Maria Teresa Terreri, Thaís Ortiz, Fabíola Sousa, Marcelo Pinheiro and Maria Odete Hilário disclose no commercial or other associations that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article, excess and redistribution of adiposity in female children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

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Copyright information

© Clinical Rheumatology 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michelle Cavalcante Caetano
    • 1
  • Roseli Oselka Saccardo Sarni
    • 1
  • Maria Teresa Lemos Terreri
    • 1
  • Thaís Tobaruela Ortiz
    • 1
  • Marcelo Pinheiro
    • 1
  • Fabíola Isabel Suano de Souza
    • 1
  • Maria Odete Hilário
    • 1
  1. 1.Pediatric RheumatologyFederal University of São PauloSão PauloBrazil

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