Pamela F Weiss

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety adversely affects outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthcare utilization is high for pediatric SLE. We aimed to characterize the prevalence of depression and anxiety in pediatric SLE, and their association with healthcare utilization.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of pediatric SLE and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) subjects and healthy controls aged 8 years and above. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease in a cohort of children with new-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with ultrasound (US) for the detection of acute and chronic changes of TMJ arthritis.

METHODS: Between January 2005 and April 2007, children with newly diagnosed JIA were prospectively evaluated for TMJ arthritis. Prior to imaging, jaw pain and disability were assessed with ...

OBJECTIVE: There is wide variation in therapeutic approaches to systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) among North American rheumatologists. Understanding the comparative effectiveness of the diverse therapeutic options available for treatment of systemic JIA can result in better health outcomes. The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) developed consensus treatment plans and standardized assessment schedules for use in clinical practice to facilitate such ...

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

METHODS: A core group led the development of the recommendations, starting with the treatment questions. A literature review group conducted systematic literature reviews of studies that addressed 57 specific treatment questions, based on searches conducted in OVID Medline (1946-2014), PubMed (1966-2014), and the Cochrane ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of sacroiliitis at diagnosis of juvenile spondyloarthritis (SpA) and the accuracy of physical examination and back pain to detect sacroiliitis, using imaging as the reference standard.

METHODS: We performed a prospective cross-sectional study of 40 children with newly diagnosed juvenile SpA and 14 healthy controls. Subjects were assessed using physical examination, anteroposterior pelvic radiograph, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative effect of clinical factors and medications on pain intensity, physical function, and health status in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of data from children with JIA enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry. We tested whether clinical characteristics of JIA were associated with pain intensity, physical function, and health status using ...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence rate (IR) of psoriasis in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and chronic noninfectious osteomyelitis (CNO) with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) exposure as compared to children without TNFi exposure and to the general pediatric population.

METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of children with IBD, JIA, or CNO from 2008 to 2018. TNFi exposure was defined as a prescription ...

OBJECTIVE: There is no standardized approach to the initial treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) among pediatric rheumatologists. Understanding the comparative effectiveness of the diverse therapeutic options available will result in better health outcomes for polyarticular JIA. The Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) developed consensus treatment plans (CTPs) for use in clinical practice to facilitate such studies.

METHODS: A ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in risk factors for depression and anxiety, such as central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)/mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), by comparing youth with SLE/MCTD to peers with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D).

STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 50 outpatient pairs, ages 8 years and above, matching subjects with SLE/MCTD and T1D by sex and age group. We screened for depression, suicidal ideation, ...

OBJECTIVE: In adults, gadolinium contrast enhancement does not add incremental value to fluid-sensitive sequences for evaluation of bone marrow edema. This study was undertaken to determine if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast is necessary to assess lesions consistent with inflammatory sacroiliitis in children.

METHODS: Patients with clinically suspected or diagnosed juvenile spondyloarthritis (SpA) underwent pelvic MRI consisting of multiplanar fluid-sensitive and postgadolinium ...

OBJECTIVE: To characterize disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in the United States and to determine patient factors associated with medication use.

METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional baseline enrollment data from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry from May 2010 through May 2011 for children with JIA. Current and prior medication use was included. We used parsimonious backward ...

ObjectivesTo assess the feasibility of studying the comparative effectiveness of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) consensus treatment plans (CTPs) for systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) using an observational registry.MethodsUntreated systemic JIA patients enrolled in the CARRA Registry were begun on one of 4 CTPs chosen by the treating physician and patient/family (glucocorticoid [GC] alone; methotrexate [MTX] ± GC; IL1 inhibitor [IL1i] ± GC; ...

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

METHODS: A core group led the development of the recommendations, starting with the treatment questions. A literature review group conducted systematic literature reviews of studies that addressed 57 specific treatment questions, based on searches conducted in OVID Medline (1946-2014), PubMed (1966-2014), and the Cochrane ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the precision and construct validity of pediatric Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) instruments in a population of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and parent proxies.

METHODS: A convenience sample of JIA patients and parents of JIA patients completed PROMIS instruments for 8 domains: anger, anxiety, depressive symptoms, fatigue, mobility, pain interference, peer relationships, and upper-extremity function. Short form and ...

OBJECTIVE: There is a critical need for measures to evaluate structural progression in the pediatric sacroiliac joint (SIJ). We aimed to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada SIJ Structural Score (SSS) in children with suspected or confirmed juvenile spondyloarthritis.

METHODS: The SSS assesses structural lesions of the SIJ on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through the cartilaginous part of the joint. We conducted 3 ...