Systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis in a child with thalassemia major

Abstract

Patients with thalassemia are known to have an increased risk of immune-mediated illness. This increased risk may be due to a genetic predisposition or underlying immunological abnormalities. The clinical presentation of these immune-mediated illnesses may vary in these patients as compared to those without thalassemia. We report an 8-year-old boy with thalassemia major who presented to us with fever, arthritis, and hepatosplenomegaly. He was diagnosed to have systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SOJIA) and started on treatment. Although there have been reports of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with thalassemia, there are none on SOJIA in thalassemia. The possibility of systemic-onset juvenile arthritis should be considered in a child with thalassemia presenting with fever and arthritis, and the management should be instituted accordingly.

Keywords

• Arthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis
• systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• thalassemia