Review
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World J Rheumatol. Nov 12, 2013; 3(3): 16-24
Published online Nov 12, 2013. doi: 10.5499/wjr.v3.i3.16
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Balahan Makay, Erbil Unsal, Ozgur Kasapcopur
Balahan Makay, Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340 Izmır, Turkey
Erbil Unsal, Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340 Izmır, Turkey
Ozgur Kasapcopur, Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey
Author contributions: Makay B and Kasapcopur O were involved in drafting the article, revising it critically for important intellectual content; Unsal E involved in editing the manuscript and revised the language of the manuscript; All authors approved the final version to be published.
Correspondence to: Ozgur Kasapcopur, Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Paşa Sk, 34098 Istanbul, Turkey. ozgurkc@istanbul.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-212-4143000 Fax: +90-212-6321282
Received: May 20, 2013
Revised: August 15, 2013
Accepted: August 20, 2013
Published online: November 12, 2013
Processing time: 183 Days and 15.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatologic disease in children. Diagnosis of JIA is based on the history and physical examination findings. There is not a diagnostic laboratory test for JIA. Recent advances in the understanding of the immune system pathways involved in inflammation and self-tolerance have provided new targets for treatment of JIA. Biologic agents targeting key cytokines implicated in JIA, suh as tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 as well as signaling molecules involved in the regulation of B-cell and T-cell lymphocyte responses, have promising results.