Intra-articular steroid therapy for inflammatory rheumatic diseases in children and adolescents

Abstract

In addition to systemic medication,physiotherapy, and operative measures, intraarticular therapy with corticosteroids (iaST) is a well established treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). IaST is indicated in children whose inflamed joints do not respond sufficiently to systemic antiarthritic drugs and is normally carried out under in-patient conditions. Triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH) is the drug of choice for iaST because of its well documented, long-lasting effects. In younger children or those who require simultaneous injections into multiple joints, a short general anesthesia is useful, while single injections in older children can be administered after topical application of a local anesthetic. Intensive physiotherapy after iaST is important for regaining mobility lost due to the arthritis, and 2 or 3 days of post-injection rest should be adhered to after iaST of joints of the lower extremities. Several studies demonstrate long-lasting remission in the majority of the injected joints in JIA patients, with good pain-relief, improved mobility, and a significant delay in further joint destruction in comparison with joints in which the synovitis could not be adequately controlled. Various sub-types of JIA have been shown to respond differently to iaST. Intraarticular steroids can also be used to treat coxitis, since recent data failed to show a subsequent increase in the rate of femoral head necrosis. Septic arthritis, the most feared complication after iaTH, seems to be extremely rare in children. Other complications, like periarticular calcifications or subcutaneous atrophy, also occur only rarely, provided the steroid is injected correctly. The present data indicate that iaST is an effective and safe treatment for JIA. The therapeutic approach to children with JIA is multidisciplinary, and these young patients should be treated in specialised centres.