CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS IN CHILDREN WITH JUVENILE ARTHRITIS: THE IMPORTANCE OF INFLAMMATION ACTIVITY AND DISEASE DURATION

Abstract

Relevance. Under the influence of progressive inflammatory activity, immunological disturbances, and pharmacological therapy, cardiovascular system damage in children with juvenile arthritis is considered one of the leading factors contributing to a poorer prognosis and increased risk of disability. The clinical manifestations of such disorders are often masked by the underlying disease, which leads to a delay in diagnosis. This highlights the necessity of a detailed investigation of cardiovascular abnormalities in this patient population. Objective. To assess the impact of inflammatory activity and disease duration of juvenile arthritis on the development of cardiovascular disorders in children. Materials and Methods. The study included 80 patients with JIA aged 2 to 17 years, divided into two groups: 50 with systemic-onset JIA and 30 with the articular form of the disease. Clinical, instrumental, and laboratory methods were applied. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics v.26. Results. It was established that the frequency of cardiovascular disorders in children with systemic-onset JIA was higher than in those with the articular form. The following characteristic cardiovascular disorders were identified: chronic heart failure, myocardial remodeling, arrhythmias, conduction blocks, left ventricular hypertrophy, and decreased contractile function. A significant association was demonstrated between the frequency of these disorders, the severity of inflammatory activity, and disease duration. Conclusion. In children with systemic-onset JIA, cardiovascular disorders are more frequent compared to the articular form. The progression and high inflammatory activity of JIA are closely related to the development of structural and functional cardiac changes, including myocardial remodeling, conduction abnormalities, and valvular dysfunctions.