Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): Therapeutic Approaches for Oligoarthritis, Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Arthritis and Systemic JIA

Publication Date: March 2, 2022
Last Updated: September 2, 2022

Treatment

 Oligoarthritis

A trial of consistent NSAIDs is conditionally recommended as part of initial therapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Intra-articular glucocorticoids (IAGCs) are strongly recommended as part of initial therapy. ( Very low , Strong )
608
Triamcinolone hexacetonide (THA) is strongly recommended as the preferred agent. ( Low , Strong )
608
Oral glucocorticoids are conditionally recommended against as part of initial therapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Conventional synthetic DMARDs are strongly recommended if there is an inadequate response to scheduled NSAIDs and/or IAGCs.
(MTX) ( Low , Strong )
608
(LEF, SSZ, HCQ) ( Very low , Strong )
608
Methotrexate (MTX) is (LEF, SSZ, HCQ) conditionally recommended as a preferred agent over leflunomide (LEF), sulfasalazine (SSZ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) (in that order).
(MTX) ( Low , Conditional )
608
(LEF, SSZ, HCQ) ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Biologic DMARDs are strongly recommended if there is inadequate response to or intolerance of NSAIDs and/or IAGCs and at least one conventional synthetic DMARD. ( Very low , Strong )
608
There is no preferred biologic DMARD. ( Very low , )
608
Consideration of risk factors for poor outcome (e.g., involvement of ankle, wrist, hip and/or temporomandibular joint arthritis (TMJ), presence of erosive disease, delay in diagnosis, elevated inflammatory markers, symmetric disease) is conditionally recommended to guide treatment decisions. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Use of validated disease activity measures is conditionally recommended to guide treatment decisions, especially to facilitate treat-to-target approaches. ( Very low , Conditional )
608

TMJ Arthritis

A trial of consistent NSAIDs is conditionally recommended as part of initial therapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
IAGCs are conditionally recommended as part of initial therapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
There is no preferred agent. ( Very low , )
608
Oral glucocorticoids are conditionally recommended against as part of initial therapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Conventional synthetic DMARDs are strongly recommended for inadequate response or intolerance to NSAIDs and/or IAGCs. ( Very low , Strong )
608
Methotrexate is conditionally recommended as a preferred agent over leflunomide. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Biologic DMARDs are conditionally recommended for inadequate response or intolerance to NSAIDs and/or IAGCs and at least one conventional synthetic DMARD. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
There is no preferred biologic agent. ( Very low , )
608
Consideration of poor prognostic features (e.g., involvement of ankle, wrist, hip and/or TMJ, presence of erosive disease, delay in diagnosis, elevated inflammatory markers, symmetric disease) is conditionally recommended to guide treatment decisions. ( Very low , Conditional )
608

Systemic JIA Inactive Disease

Tapering and discontinuing glucocorticoids is strongly recommended after inactive disease has been attained. ( Very low , Strong )
608
Tapering and discontinuing biologic DMARDs is conditionally recommended after inactive disease has been attained. ( Very low , Conditional )
608

Systemic JIA Without MAS

NSAIDs are conditionally recommended as initial monotherapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Oral glucocorticoids are conditionally recommended against as initial monotherapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Conventional synthetic DMARDs are strongly recommended against as initial monotherapy. ( Very low , Strong )
608
Biologic DMARDs (interleukin [IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors]) are conditionally recommended as initial monotherapy. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
There is no preferred agent. ( Very low , )
608
IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors are strongly recommended over a single or combination of conventional synthetic DMARDs for inadequate response to or intolerance of NSAIDs and/or glucocorticoids. ( Very low , Strong )
608
Biologic DMARDS or conventional synthetic DMARDS are strongly recommended over long-term glucocorticoids for residual arthritis and incomplete response to IL-1 and/or IL-6 inhibitors. ( Very low , Strong )
608
There is no preferred agent. ( Very low , )
608

Systemic JIA With MAS

IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors are conditionally recommended over calcineurin inhibitors alone to achieve inactive disease and resolution of MAS. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
Glucocorticoids are conditionally recommended as part of initial treatment of systemic JIA with MAS. ( Very low , Conditional )
608
There is no preferred agent. ( Very low , )
608
Biologic DMARDs or conventional synthetic DMARDs are strongly recommended over long-term glucocorticoids for residual arthritis and an incomplete response to IL-1 and/or IL-6 inhibitors. ( Very low , Strong )
608
There is no preferred agent. ( Very low , )
608

Recommendation Grading

Overview

Title

Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): Therapeutic Approaches for Oligoarthritis, Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Arthritis and Systemic JIA

Authoring Organization

American College of Rheumatology

Publication Month/Year

March 2, 2022

Last Updated Month/Year

October 8, 2024

Document Type

Guideline

Country of Publication

US

Document Objectives

To provide updated guidelines for pharmacologic management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), focusing on treatment of oligoarthritis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis, and systemic JIA with and without macrophage activation syndrome.

Target Patient Population

Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

PICO Questions

  1. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should a trial of scheduled NSAIDs be recommended?

  2. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should adding IAGCs to initial therapy be recommended?

  3. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should a specific steroid type be recommended for intraarticular injection?

  4. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should adding oral steroids to initial therapy be recommended?

  5. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should DMARD therapies be recommended, and should there be any preferred order of treatment

  6. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should biologic therapies be recommended, and should there be any preferred order of treatment

  7. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should poor prognostic features alter the treatment paradigm?

  8. In children with JIA with active TMJ arthritis, should poor prognostic features alter the treatment paradigm?

  9. In children with oligoarticular JIA, should disease activity measures alter the treatment paradigm?

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adolescent, Child

Health Care Settings

Ambulatory

Intended Users

Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Treatment, Management

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D001171 - Arthritis, Juvenile

Keywords

juvenile idiopathic arthritis, JIA, TMJ

Source Citation

Onel KB, Horton DB, Lovell DJ, et al. 2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): Therapeutic Approaches for Oligoarthritis, Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Arthritis and Systemic JIA

Supplemental Methodology Resources

Evidence Tables, Project Plan

Methodology

Number of Source Documents
100
Literature Search Start Date
August 6, 2019
Literature Search End Date
July 8, 2020