Southwood T R, Woo P
Department of Rheumatology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
Baillieres Clin Rheumatol. 1995 May;9(2):331-53. doi: 10.1016/s0950-3579(05)80194-3.
The nomenclature and classification criteria for arthritis in children should be dealt with initially as separate issues, although they are undoubtedly intertwined. The classification criteria should aim to delineate homogeneous patient populations, yet should be flexible enough to incorporate advances in disease knowledge. It should be recognized that arriving at an international consensus for classification criteria will merely provide a set of operational definitions to facilitate research, and not a set of diagnostic criteria. Indeed the only point to obtaining consensus is to begin a process of systematic ongoing review of the criteria. The labels attached to any of these diseases should facilitate accurate communication. In view of the heterogeneous nature of childhood arthritis, consideration should be given to using a broad umbrella term such as juvenile or childhood arthritis only for communicating with the lay public. Medical nomenclature should be formulated to reflect accurately homogeneous subgroups of arthritis, and should not artificially proscribe a relationship between paediatric and adult disease.
儿童关节炎的命名法和分类标准最初应作为单独的问题来处理，尽管它们无疑相互交织。分类标准应旨在界定同质化的患者群体，但也应足够灵活，以纳入疾病知识的进展。应该认识到，达成国际分类标准共识仅仅是为了提供一套操作定义以促进研究，而不是一套诊断标准。事实上，达成共识的唯一意义在于启动对这些标准进行系统持续审查的进程。赋予这些疾病中任何一种的名称都应有助于准确的交流。鉴于儿童关节炎的异质性，在与普通大众交流时，应考虑仅使用“青少年”或“儿童关节炎”这样宽泛的统称。医学命名法的制定应准确反映关节炎的同质化亚组，而不应人为地限制儿科疾病与成人疾病之间的关系。
