Abstract
Chronic inflammatory conditions in children such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis and systemic lupus erythematosus can cause reduced linear growth, final height and bone mass. There are many mechanisms leading to these skeletal alterations but inflammation itself is considered to play an important role. Biologic therapy is being used increasingly for the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions and may also be effective in improving growth and skeletal development. The main aim of this article is to summarize the effects of inflammation on growth and skeletal development and evaluate the effects of biologic therapy on growth and skeletal development in children with chronic inflammatory conditions.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.