Table 2 Clinical and laboratory characteristics of children’s cohort

Number

20

23

Mean age in years (SD; Range)

9.6 (±5.5; 2–17)

7.8 (±5.1; 11 Mon.-17)

Sex (male:female)

1.2:1

1:1.1

Swollen joints per patient* n (Range)

0.5 (0–10)

0 (0–8)

Patients with swollen joints n (%)

10 (50)

4 (12.5)

Tender joints per patient* n (Range)

1 (0–10)

0 (0–8)

Patients with tender joints n (%)

12 (60)

5 (15.6)

Arthralgia n (%)

14 (70)

9 (39.1)

Erosive Arthritis n

0

0

Fever n (%)

16 (80)

16 (69.6)

Rash n (%)

12 (60)

3 (13)

Pharyngitis/sore throat n (%)

4 (20)

1 (4.3)

Splenomegaly n (%)

3 (15)

2 (8.7)

Lymphadenopathy n (%)

0 (0)

4 (17.4)

Serositis (Pleuritis/Pericarditis/Peritonitis) n (%)

2 (10)

3 (13)

Prednisolone Therapy at IL-18 determination n (%)

5 (25)

4 (17.4)

DMARD Therapy

2 (10)

2 (8.7)

WBC > 10,000/ml n (%)

16 (80)

11 (47.8)

WBC Gpt/ml (SD; Range)

15.1 (± 8.3; 5.6–37.7)

12.8 (± 8.4; 3.6–32.8)

Neutrophils > 80% n (%)

8 (40)

5 (21.7)

ANA > 1:160 n (%)

0 (0). 6 x not examined

2 (8.7) 8 x not examined

Elevated ALT or AST n (%)

1 (5)

2 (8.7)

ALAT μmol/ls (SD)

0.3 (±0.20; 0.07–0.72)

0.35 (±0.21; 0.1–0.87)

RF positive n (%)

2 (7 x of 20 not examined)

1 (8 x of 23 not examined)

CRP mg/l (SD; Range)

0 (8 x of 20 not examined)

0 (13 x of 23 not examined)

ESR mm/1 h (SD; Range)

115.1 (±85.4; < 5–398.8)

70.6 (±74.6; < 5–253.4)

WBC > 10,000/ml n (%)

70.0 (±48.9; 2–147; 12 x not examined)

51.1 (±42.4; 5–125; 16 x not examined)

RBC Tpt/l (SD; Range)

4.46 (±0.53; 3.4–5.53)

4.33 (±0.51; 3.15–5.47)

Hemoglobin mmol/l (SD; Range)

8.3 (±2.1; 6–12)

8.4 (±2.46; 5.2–13.8)

Hematocrit % (SD; Range)

0.35 (±0.04;0.29–0.46)

0.34 (±0.04;0.26–0.42)

Platelets Gpt/l (SD; Range)

409.2 (±178.8; 166–687)

360.4 (±124.5; 183–660)

IL-18 pg/ml* (Range)

14,732.5 (215–372,850)

2580 (346.2–141,650)