DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH TO NON-BACTERIAL OSTEOMYELITIS TREATMENT IN CHILDREN: THE RETROSPECTIVE STUDY RESULTS

Differentiated Approach to Non-Bacterial Osteomyelitis Treatment in Children: the Retrospective Study Results Background. Low efficacy of the therapy of children with non-bacterial osteomyelitis remains a topical problem of modern pediatrics and rheumatology. Objective: Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of non-bacterial osteomyelitis treatment in children. Methods. A retrospective study of the case records of children with non-bacterial osteomyelitis has been carried out. The therapy efficacy (remission) was assessed by the following criteria: absence of fever, pain, clinically active lesions, laboratory disease activity. Laboratory and radiological methods were carried out during diagnosis of the pathological process, and subsequently every 3–6–12 months to assess disease activity depending on the initial injury extent of the skeleton. Clinical activity assessment was carried out by means of a visual analogue scale. Results. We analyzed treatment results of 52 children (68 therapy courses) with non-bacterial osteomyelitis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were administered to 19 patients, sulfasalazine — to 7, methotrexate — to 9, pamidronic acid — to 18, inhibitors of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α — to 15. Remission was achieved in 10 (53%) 4 (57%) 4 (44%), 16 (89%), and 11 (73%) patients (p = 0.001), respectively. Adverse events during treatment occurred in 21 (40%) children. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion. The efficacy of different regimens has been shown. It was found that pamidronic acid drug and TNF inhibitors were the most effective in treating children with non-bacterial osteomyelitis.