Table 1 Subjects in both arms are grouped according to the severity of the disease, based on the 2011 American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (ref. [2])

More severe patients

- Children with RF negative polyarthritis

- Children with oligoarthritis AND features of poor prognosis:

 a. Arthritis of the hip or cervical spine

 b. Arthritis of the ankle or wrist and marked (> 40 mm/h) or prolonged (> 20 in at least 3 consecutive assessments within 3 months) erythrocyte sedimentation rate elevation

Less severe patients

- Children with oligoarthritis WITHOUT features of poor prognosis