Intraarticular triamcinolone in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Thirty seven children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who were treated with one or more intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections were evaluated. Ninety five joints were injected with a total number of 125 injections. Complete remission of the joint inflammation lasting at least 6 months was obtained in 62 of 95 injections (65%). Treatment of the joint contractures was successful in 35 of 51 joints (69%). In patients with oligoarthritis, 21 of 26 injected joints (81%) were in full remission at six-months. The 6-month remission was significantly lower in the other subtypes of JIA (P<0.01), 41 of 69 (59%) injected joints, when compared to oligoarticular patients. Intra-articular TA injection is an effective and safe therapy for inflammatory joint disease in JIA, particularly in the oligoarticular form.