investigations

Last reviewed 01/2018

These include:

  • urgent eye screening and risk assessment to identify cases of uveitis
  • full blood count - children with systemic disease and longstanding polyarthritis often have microcytic hypochromic anaemia. In the early stages a neutrophil leucocytosis may be seen.
  • ESR - generally raised.
  • positive antinuclear antibody - especially in pauciarticular JCA.
  • rheumatoid factor positive - rare except in late onset polyarticular disease.
  • HLA B27 - may be found to be positive; especially in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.