Pubertal Development in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Aim It is a known fact that pubertal development is negatively affected in patients with chronic diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the most common chronic rheumatic disease of childhood, on pubertal development. Materials and Methods A total of 72 children (42 girls, 30 boys) diagnosed with JIA according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology diagnostic criteria were included. Pubertal development was assessed by the Tanner–Marshall method. Breast development in girls (thelarche stage 1–5) and testis volume in boys (genital stage 1–5) were assessed. The Tanner stages of the patients were compared with the pubertal development averages of healthy Turkish children reported previously. Results The mean patient age was 13.8±3.3 years. The girls’ mean age at puberty onset and menarcheal age were found to be 10.87±1.22 and 12.83±1.05 years, respectively. They did not differ from healthy Turkish girls in terms of puberty onset age and menarcheal age (p=0.07) and from their own mothers in terms of menarcheal age (p=0.66); however, their completion of puberty was delayed (p=0.001). The boys’ mean age at puberty onset was 13.8±2.2 years, and we found that both onset and completion of puberty were delayed (p=0.001; p=0.003, respectively). The rate of delayed puberty in all patients was found to be 4.1%. Discussion and Conclusion: We found that completion of puberty was delayed in girls with JIA, although puberty onset age and menarcheal age were not affected, and that both onset and completion of puberty were delayed in boys with JIA