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The Challenges and Opportunities of Classifying Childhood Arthritis

  • Pediatric Rheumatology (S Ozen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Childhood arthritis is in need of a new system of classification, owing to deficiencies in the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria. We briefly review the history of classification of childhood arthritis, discuss the major criticisms of the current system, and highlight current initiatives to address those concerns.

Recent Findings

Recent studies in both pediatric and adult rheumatology into the biologic basis of disease as well as the clinical patterns of presentation have informed the efforts toward developing a new classification system.

Summary

Several efforts are currently underway to improve the classification of childhood arthritis, most notably the project of the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO). This international alliance of pediatric rheumatologists has begun a 4-step process to create new classification criteria for childhood arthritis. They are currently on step 3 of the process.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Rheumatology, University of Alberta, 3-502 ECHA, 11405 87 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada

    Dax G. Rumsey

  2. Departments of Paediatrics and Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada

    Ronald M. Laxer

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Correspondence to Dax G. Rumsey.

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Dr. Rumsey and Dr. Laxer declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pediatric Rheumatology

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Rumsey, D.G., Laxer, R.M. The Challenges and Opportunities of Classifying Childhood Arthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 22, 4 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-020-0880-3

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