Outcome measures in childhood rheumatic diseases.

The childhood rheumatic diseases are a group of chronic disorders with variable courses, morbidity, and outcomes ranging from complete remission to long-term disability. The major childhood rheumatic disorders are juvenile idiopathic arthritis (systemic onset, polyarticular, oligoarticular, enthesitis-related, psoriatic), juvenile dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and the vasculitides. In this review, the current status of outcomes measurement application to pediatric rheumatology will be discussed.