Physical growth, skeletal maturation and serum osteocalcin level were
studied in 84 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (28 males and
56 females) ranged in age between 3 years to eighteen and half years
with mean age 1.1.60 years and on 84 healthy controlled matched as re
gard to age, sex and socineconomic status with the patients. The results
showed significant growth retardation (in weight and height), delayed
skeletal maturation (TW220-bones and carpal bone age) and serum osteo
calcin level in all patients witlijuvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). All the
parameters of the male and female patients were less than that of the
control and the females were more affected than males. As regard to the
duration of the disease a higher percentage of the parameters were below
the 5th or 3rd centile in patients with disease duration > 3 years than
that in patients with disease duration < 3years. Also in patients with sys
temic onset, both weight and height were below the 511i centile in 73.33%
and RUS, TW220-bones and carpal bones age were below the 3rd centile
in 23,33%, 60% and 50% respectively. These percentages were heigher
than that in pavdarticular and pdlyarticular onset Also, it was observed
that, in patients receiving corticosteroid, weight and height were below
the 5th centile in 75% and 83.3% respectively and RVS, TW^O-bones
and carpal bones were below the 3rd centile in 27.78%, 72.22% and 75%
respectively |