Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Research

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

What Are Researchers Trying To Learn About Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Scientists are investigating the possible causes of JRA. Researchers suspect that both genetic and environmental factors are involved in development of the disease and they are studying these factors in detail. To help explore the role of genetics, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) has established a research registry for families in which two or more siblings have JRA. NIAMS also funds a Multipurpose Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases Center (MAMDC) that specializes in research on pediatric rheumatic diseases including JRA.

Research doctors are continuing to try to improve existing treatments and find new medicines that will work better with fewer side effects. For example, researchers are studying the long-term effects of the use of methotrexate in children.

Where Can People Get More Information About the Research Registry and MAMDC?

For more information about the Research Registry, contact:
Edward Giannini, MD
Children's Hospital Medical Center - PAV 2-129
University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine
Cincinnati, OH 45229
513/636-7634 or 513/636-4495
E-mail address: btague@one.net
World Wide Web address: http://www.jraregistry.org
For information about the MAMDC, contact:
David Glass, MD
Children's Hospital Medical Center - PAV 2-129
University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine
Cincinnati, OH 45229-2899
513/636-8854
E-mail address: glasd0@chmcc.org
World Wide Web address: http://www.cinciMAMDC.org

Where Can People Get More Information About Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis? American Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO)
1330 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
404/872-7100
800/283-7800
World Wide Web address: http://www.arthritis.org/

AJAO, part of the National Arthritis Foundation, is the primary nonprofit organization devoted to childhood rheumatic diseases. The organization has information about JRA, support groups, and pediatric rheumatology centers around the country.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
National Institutes of Health
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
301/495-4484 Fax: 301/587-4352 TTY: 301/565-2966

NIAMS Fast Facts: health information available 24 hours a day by fax, call 301/881-2731 from a fax machine telephone.
World Wide Web address: http://www.nih.gov/niams

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse is a public service sponsored by the NIAMS that provides health information devoted to childhood rheumatic diseases. The organization has information about JRA, support groups, and pediatric rheumatology centers around the country.
Kids on the Block, Inc.
9385-C Gerwig Lane
Columbia, MD 21046
410/290-9095
800/368-KIDS (5437)

Kids on the Block, Inc., is an educational program that uses puppets to show how JRA can affect school, sports, friends, and family. A package is available (for a fee) that includes a set of large puppets that represent a diverse group of children, as well as audiocassettes, a training guide, four different program scripts, props, followup activities, and other resources. The program is designed so that anyone can be puppeteer, and workshops to train puppeteers are available.

Acknowledgments

The NIAMS gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Lauren Pachman, M.D., of Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL; Patience White, M.D., of George Washington Medical Center and Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; and Edward H. Giannini, M.D., of Children's Hospital Medical Center at the University of Cincinnati.

The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NAMSIC) is a public service sponsored by the NIAMS that provides health information and information sources. The NIAMS, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), leads the Federal medical research effort in arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases. The NIAMS sponsors research and research training throughout the United States as well as on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, and disseminates health and research information.

Publication number: AR-112QA
Publication date: May 1998
E-text posted: October 1998

Material provided by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
You may visit their website at www.nih.com