A rare association of osteogenesis imperfecta and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: case reports and literature review.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder of connective tissues caused by an abnormality in the synthesis or processing of type I collagen. The combination of OI and inflammatory arthritis is rare. Our literature review identified 5 cases of OI-related inflammatory arthritis, but only 2 of these cases have been reported in children.

Case report: We present 3 cases diagnosed with OI and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Two were diagnosed with enthesitis-associated arthritis, and one was diagnosed with oligoarticular JIA with laboratory findings and a magnetic resonance imaging examination. Only one of the patients had a previously diagnosed OI. For the others, whole gene sequence analysis was performed, and a mutation in the collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) gene was detected. Identifying and treating inflammatory arthritis in our patients with OI improved their joint pain.

Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain is a common issue in individuals with OI and JIA. Considering children with OI may also develop arthritis, early diagnosis, and accurate treatment may be crucial. Recognizing the rare association between JIA and OI is important, as investigating this relationship could help alleviate the disease burden. Thorough evaluation and prompt diagnosis of JIA in patients with OI can significantly reduce the impact of the disease.