Advancing Early Diagnosis of Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis with Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Overview:
Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis (JPsA) is a disease that affects children and can cause both arthritis and psoriasis. We have safe and effective medicines to treat this disease and to prevent the joint damage it can cause. However, it can take a very long time for children with JPsA to receive a diagnosis, and 30% of children already have joint damage by the time they are diagnosed. We think this is because the joint problems it causes can be very subtle with mild joint swelling and enthesitis, inflammation where the tendons attach to the bones. It is difficult for doctors to accurately identify enthesitis, one of the earliest signs of the disease, with physical exam. Even after diagnosis, it can be difficult to follow how active the disease is, which makes it difficult to decide when treatments need to be changed. Ultrasound is a safe tool that allows doctors to look at joints and tendons in the office. In adults, this technology has been used to help doctors detect early signs of JPsA. We want to understand the signs of JPsA in children to see if this could help us make earlier diagnoses and improve disease monitoring over time. In our study we will look at the joints, tendons, and nails of children with JPsA and psoriasis and compare them with healthy children. Our longterm goal is to make diagnosis faster and treatment better, so kids with JPsA can live healthier lives and avoid joint damage.
Status:
This was funded through a 2026 Rheum for Kids: Pediatric Skin and Joint Grant run in partnership with the Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF) and PeDRA. Learn more about Dr. Costello and her research in this interview. Read this article to learn more about the partnership between ANRF and PeDRA.