Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

FDA-Approved Treatments

• Tocilizumab (Brand name: Actemra) - Manufactured by Genentech, Inc
  FDA-approved indication: May 2018, tocilizumab (Actemra) received expanded approval for treatment of pediatric patients (age 16 years and younger) with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
  National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  Medline Plus Health Information
• Etanercept (Brand name: Enbrel®) - Manufactured by Amgen
  FDA-approved indication: Reduction in signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
  National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  Medline Plus Health Information
• Adalimumab (Brand name: Humira) - Manufactured by AbbVie Inc.
  FDA-approved indication: Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Reducing signs and symptoms and inducing and maintaining clinical remission in patients 6 years of age and older with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or immunomodulators such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, or methotrexate.
  National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  Medline Plus Health Information
• Canakinumab (Brand name: Ilaris) - Manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
  FDA-approved indication: June 2009, canakinumab (Ilaris) was approved for the treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), in adults and children 4 years of age and older. In May 2013, it was also approved for the treatment of active Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) in patients aged 2 through 16 years.
  National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
• Meloxicam (Brand name: Mobic) - Manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  FDA-approved indication: For relief of the signs and symptoms of pauciarticular or polyarticular course Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis in patients 2 years of age or older.
  National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
  Medline Plus Health Information

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.