Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

In response to a request from the public regarding the expanding use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a review was undertaken to examine the effectiveness, benefits, and adverse effects of DMARDs, to compare these drugs with each other and with conventional anti-inflammatory treatments. The systematic review included 56 clinical studies published before 2011, reporting treatment effects in children 18 years of age or younger. The full report, listing all studies, is available at www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/dmardsjia.cfm. This summary, based on the full report of research evidence, is provided to inform discussions of options with patients and to assist in decisionmaking along with consideration of a patient's values and preferences. Reviews of evidence should not be construed to represent clinical recommendations or guidelines.