Childhood-onset rheumatoid arthritis at a tertiary hospital in Senegal, West Africa

Abstract Background Childhood-onset rheumatoid arthritis (CORA), known as rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis that shares the same genetic factors and clinical features as adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis. In Africa, CORA hasn’t been the subject of a specific study. Objectives The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features, disease activity, functional disability, and treatment of CORA at diagnosis in Senegal and compare the findings to other CORA populations. Methods We conducted a mixed cohort study by reviewing the medical records of patients diagnosed with CORA with an age of symptom onset 5.1). The mean DAS28-CRP was 5.4 ± 1.1. The median HAQ was 2.12 with a mean HAQ of 1.9. Nineteen (90.5%) patients were treated with methotrexate, while 17 (81%) had a combination of methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine. Oral prednisone was used in 17 (81%) cases. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were used in 4 cases (19%). After 6 months of treatment, mean DAS28-CRP was 2.9. Conclusion In our study, CORA mainly affects 13-year-old girls, characterised by high disease activity with joint deformity and significant functional impairment. Treatment is mainly based on methotrexate, prednisone and hydroxychloroquine. Further studies are needed to determine the exact clinical phenotype of this disease.