Clinical Features of Psoriatic Arthritis in Children
Authors:   I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) (a Federal Government Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education), Russian Federation Ministry of Health, Chebysheva S.N. ,   Moscow, Russian Federation, Geppe N.A. ,   I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) (a Federal Government Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education), Russian Federation Ministry of Health; Moscow, Russian Federation, Zholobova E.S. ,   I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) (a Federal Government Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education), Russian Federation Ministry of Health; Moscow, Russian Federation, Aleksanyan K.V. ,   I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) (a Federal Government Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education), Russian Federation Ministry of Health; Moscow, Russian Federation, Meleshkina A.V. ,   I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) (a Federal Government Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education), Russian Federation Ministry of Health; Moscow, Russian Federation, Dagbaeva D.V. ,   .M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) (a Federal Government Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education), Russian Federation Ministry of Health; Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: January 2021

Study Objective: to present literature review of clinical parameters and course of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in children, and results of PsA patients examination in University Clinical Children Hospital of I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. Study Design: open prospective study. Materials and Methods. We analysed medical records of 83 children with PsA aged 3 to 17 years who were examined and managed in University Clinical Children Hospital of I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University in 1989 – 2019. Study Results. Confirmed PsA was diagnosed in 59 (71%) children, suspected PsA — in 24 (29%) children; 44 (53%) children got ill before they were 6.5 years old. In 24 (29%) patients, disease started with skin involvement; in 59 (71%) patients, articular syndrome was the first manifestation of disease. In the group of patients with confirmed psoriasis, the most common was plaque psoriasis: it was diagnosed in 45 (76.3%) out of 59 children; guttate psoriasis was found in 8 (13.5%) children, isolated nail plaque psoriasis — in 3 (5.1%) patients, and palm and foot psoriasis — in 3 (5.1%) children. Psoriasis of the scalp was diagnosed in 23 (39%) subjects. In 8 (13.5%) patients, skin syndrome was associated with mild infiltration and scant desquamation. 18 (21.7%) out of 83 children had skin involvement together with nail bed involvement. Psoriasic onychodystrophy was diagnosed in 19 (23%) children (onycholysis, “oil patches” on fingers and toes); 15 (18.1%) children had “thimble syndrome”. On disease onset, 68.7% of children had oligoarticular, sometimes asymmetric articular syndrome; 18.1% had symmetric rheumatoid-like disease, 13.2% — psoriasic spondylitis. After 5 years of follow-up, articular syndrome transformed: 41.2% of patients had symmetric rheumatoid-like disease, 24.1% — asymmetric oligoarthritis, 24.1% — spondylarthritis with peripheral joint involvement, and 10.8% — arthritis mutilans. Most commonly PsA affected knee, talocrural joints, small hand joints – 41%, 31.3%, 29%, respectively. Conclusion. Clinical manifestations of PsA varied a lot. Our patients did not have a second peak. Almost one third of children had skin changes prior to arthritis development. Onset of disease was associated with asymmetric oligoarthritis prevalence. Later, articular syndrome changed, and symmetric rheumatoid-like disease prevailed. Keywords: children, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Vancouver diagnostic criteria.