"Adolescent-onset Still's disease": characteristics and outcome in comparison with adult-onset Still's disease.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if adolescent onset systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) represent the same clinical continuum of disease.

METHODS

Retrospective review of available clinical data on all pediatric and adult patients diagnosed with Still's disease within the last 10 years at a university hospital. Assessment of functional outcomes at last visit by clinical evaluation and HAQ or c-HAQ.

RESULTS

Nine patients were identified as adolescent onset systemic JIA and were compared with 10 patients with AOSD (onset > 18 years old). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of clinical presentation at onset and outcome at follow up.

CONCLUSION

Adolescent patients presenting with systemic JIA have a disease onset and course undistinguishable from that of AOSD patients, suggesting that they represent a continuum of a single disease entity.