The Features of Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis with Cervical Spine Involvement in the Data from a Retrospective Study Cohort

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Cervical spine arthritis (CSA) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can lead to clinically significant and irreversible functional impairment. Our study aimed to evaluate the features of the JIA disease course in children with CSA. <b>Methods:</b> In the retrospective cohort study, the data from medical charts of children with JIA (n = 753) who corresponded to the ILAR criteria and were treated from 2007 to 2016 were included. CSA was diagnosed by clinical manifestations (pain and limited range of motion) with radiological confirmation in the available cases. <b>Results:</b> CSA had 101 JIA patients (13.4%), predominantly with polyarticular (48%, OR = 1.8 (1.2; 2.7), <i>p</i> < 0.001) and systemic (18.9%, OR = 3.6 [2.0; 6.6], <i>p</i> < 0.001) JIA categories. CSA was associated with longer disease duration, higher inflammatory activity, a higher number of active joints, a lower probability of achieving remission (HR = 1.33 (95% CI: 1.01; 1.76, <i>p</i> = 0.04)), and a higher probability of being treated with biologics (HR = 1.78 (95% CI: 1.22; 2.59, <i>p</i> = 0.002)). Patients with temporomandibular arthritis (OR = 10.4 [5.4; 19.8], <i>p</i> < 0.001) and shoulder arthritis (OR = 14.1 [7.5; 26.3], <i>p</i> < 0.001) had the highest risk of having CSA. <b>Conclusions:</b> CSA was an independent predictor of treatment with biologics and failure to achieve remission. Identified predictors can help to find the group of patients with higher suspicion for whom the functional tests and MRI are required to not miss the CSA. A radiology assessment of CSA should be performed as far as possible in children, unless there are risks of general anesthesia for younger patients.