Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can cause structural damage. However, data on conventional radiography (CR) in JIA are scant.
Objective: To provide pragmatic guidelines on CR in each non-systemic JIA subtype.
Methods: A multidisciplinary task force of 16 French experts (rheumatologists, paediatricians, radiologists and one patient representative) formulated research questions on CR assessments in each non-systemic JIA subtype. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies providing detailed information on structural joint damage. Recommendations, based on the evidence found, were evaluated using two Delphi rounds and a review by an independent committee.
Results: 74 original articles were included. The task force developed four principles and 31 recommendations with grades ranging from B to D. The experts felt strongly that patients should be selected for CR based on the risk of structural damage, with routine CR of the hands and feet in rheumatoid factor-positive polyarticular JIA but not in oligoarticular non-extensive JIA.
Conclusion: These first pragmatic recommendations on CR in JIA rely chiefly on expert opinion, given the dearth of scientific evidence. CR deserves to be viewed as a valuable tool in many situations in patients with JIA.
Key points: • CR is a valuable imaging technique in selected indications. • CR is routinely recommended for peripheral joints, when damage risk is high. • CR is recommended according to the damage risk, depending on JIA subtype. • CR is not the first-line technique for imaging of the axial skeleton.
Keywords: Conventional radiography; Erosions; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis; Recommendations; Structural damage.