Arthritis in children with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia.

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder characterized by dwarfism, stubby digits, and abnormalities in maturing epiphyses. This syndrome has been associated with the onset of osteoarthritis during early adolescence; frank arthritis before puberty has not been reported. We describe 4 children with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia who developed chronic arthritis during the first decade of life.