Care of the adult with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction Although many children with inflammatory arthritis enter long-term remission before entering adulthood, a substantial proportion exhibit persistent disease and require ongoing rheumatologic care beyond the pediatric years. These patients have medical needs that differ, occasionally substantially, from those of patients with adult-onset rheumatic diseases. This review will summarize outcomes data in juvenile-onset arthritis and discuss the medical management of these patients as adults, including the transition from pediatric to adult care.