Rutgers Health researchers have identified a significant shift in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), with biologic and targeted therapies becoming more prevalent than traditional methods. Their findings, published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, analyzed over two decades of data from nearly 14,000 children across the United States.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a common childhood rheumatic disorder affecting approximately 16 to 150 per 100,000 children in North America. It causes chronic inflammation that leads to persistent joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Treatments aim to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life by normalizing physical movement and growth while preventing long-term damage.
"JIA can take a heavy toll on the lives of affected children and families," stated Daniel Horton from Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science (PETS) and senior author of the study. "Fortunately, the therapeutic landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, and people with JIA have more potentially effective options for treatment."
The study used data from privately insured individuals over the past two decades. This allowed researchers to observe trends during a period marked by significant expansion in treatment availability for JIA. Newer disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are often more effective and better tolerated despite their higher costs compared to older treatments.
"Our study provides insight into the evolving real-world treatment practices for children with JIA," said Priyanka Yalamanchili, lead author of the study and PETS trainee.
The initiation of conventional therapies decreased by more than 45%, as newer biologic or targeted therapies became more popular. Adalimumab's use has increased steadily since its approval for rheumatoid arthritis in 2002, accounting for nearly 80% of first-line biologic or targeted therapies initiated for JIA by 2022.
"This research sets the stage for future studies that will compare the effectiveness and safety of different therapies used to treat JIA," Horton added.
This research will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence on November 16th in Washington, D.C., with coauthors including Greta Bushnell, Chintan Dave from PETS; Lydia Lee from Rutgers Center for Health Outcomes, Policy and Economics; Melissa Mannion from University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The research received support from various institutes including Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development among others.
