Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Polyarticular Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: About 30 percent of all children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have polyarticular disease. In polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, five or more joints are affected.
Joints Most Affected
The small joints, such as those in the hands and feet, are most commonly involved, but polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may also affect large joints.
Symmetrical
Polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis often is symmetrical; that is, it affects the same joint on both sides of the body.
Rheumatoid Factor
Some children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have an antibody in their blood called IgM rheumatoid factor (RF).
Prognosis
These children with IgM rheumatoid factor (RF), often have a more severe form of the disease, which doctors consider to be similar in many ways to adult rheumatoid arthritis.
