2/97 Identification of childhood arthritis in archaeological material

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Am J Phys Anthropol 1997 Feb;102(2):249-64

Identification of childhood arthritis in archaeological material: juvenile rheumatoid arthritis versus juvenile spondyloarthropathy.Rothschild BM, Hershkovitz I, Bedford L, Latimer B, Dutour O, Rothschild C, Jellema LM.Arthritis Center of Northeast Ohio, Youngstown 44512, USA.The opportunity to examine the defleshed skeleton of an individual diagnosed in life (Hamann-Todd collection, individual 2036) afforded a unique opportunity to demonstrate the bone damage characteristic of at least one form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Characteristics helpful for recognition of JRA in archaeological material include peripheral articular marginal and subchondral erosions, axial (e.g., zygapophyseal or sacroiliac) joint erosions, fusion of axial (cervical zygapophyseal) and/or peripheral joints, premature epiphyseal closure and/or ballooned epiphyses, growth retardation with underdeveloped (short and overtubulated) long bones, short mandibular rami with underdeveloped condyles and concomitant micrognathia, and demineralization (osteopenia). Distinguishing between JRA and juvenile spondyloarthropathy, however, is not always possible, as illustrated by this case.PMID: 9066903 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]