Current research projects in pediatric rheumatology

The research profile of the division of pediatric rheumatology is to reveal the potential multi-organ damage and prognostic factors in pediatric rheumatic diseases. We describe the long-term disease outcomes in representative cohorts of patients with juvenile onset arthritides and connective tissue diseases. We also identify patient characteristics, disease variables, inflammatory markers and immunogenetic factors that predict persistent disease activity, damage snd/or disability in various childhood rheumatic diseases. Our results may be beneficial for future selection of individualized targeted therapies.

Ongoing studies

Cardiovascular risk and mortality in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Project leader Berit Flatø, MD, Prof, PhD. PhD student Hanne Aulie, MD.

Remission, disease progression, and prognostic factors in young adults with JIA.

Project leader Post doc researcher Anne Marit Selvaag, MD, PhD.

Five international clinical studies of the safety and efficacy of biological agents in JIA.

National principal investigators Berit Flatø, MD, Prof., PhD and Vibke Lilleby, MD, PhD

Three observational studies conducted by the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO).

National coordinator Berit Flatø, MD, Prof, PhD

Planned projects

Mixed connective disease in children - Long-term outcome and risk factors.

Project leader Vibeke Lilleby, MD, PhD

Physical exercise capacity in Juvenile Dermatomositis – causal and prognostic factors.

Project leader Helga Sanner, MD, PhD

Inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk in JIA - a longitudinal case control study.

Project leader Berit Flatø, MD, Prof, PhD