Taiwan guideline for the diagnosis and management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common types of arthritis to affect children, with onset occurring under the age of 16. Primarily characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovium, JIA is actually a heterogenous disease, comprising several subtypes. It is therefore important to accurately identify the disease subtype, and subsequently prescribe treatments that can target the corresponding disease mechanisms. Regular monitoring during and after treatment is also necessary to mitigate related risks and adverse effects. In Taiwan, epidemiological research has shown that enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) is the predominant JIA subtype (38.6% of all cases), which differs from the epidemiological features in other countries. The Taiwan Academy of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (TAPAAI) therefore developed this guideline with these epidemiological characteristics in mind, and further draws upon the latest clinical evidence regarding JIA diagnosis, monitoring, and newly approved treatments, as well as recently published JIA guidelines from the United States and Germany. It is hoped that this guideline can serve as a practical and up-to-date reference for healthcare professionals, and support daily clinical practice for the enhancement of patient outcomes.