Proposed diagnostic criteria with regard to ankylosing spondylitis in children and adolescents
Wójcik, T.
Pediatria Polska 61(4): 222-226
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-3939 PMID: 3797149 Document Number: 275500
The diagnostic difficulties in ankylosing spondylitis in children and adolescents are due to differences in disease onset and the further course of the disease which differ from those in adults. In children usually the first signs of the disease appear in peripheral joints, and vertebral changes appear later, contrary to adults. In children usually the first signs of the disease are inflammatory processes of the peripheral joints, especially in lower extremities, while spinal changes appear later, again in contrast to adults in whom in 70% of cases spinal changes are the first signs to appear. Differences are observed in the degree of progression of radiological changes in the sacroiliac joints where usually the first stages of sacroilitis are observed. In the further course of the diseases the characteristic ankylosing changes do not develop in the spine and paravertebral tissues. These observations served for elaboration of proposed set of diagnostic criteria of this disease in children and adolescents. The criteria included major and minor signs. They will be useful in this age group and with accumulation of experience they may be introduced as obligatory after appropriate verification.