INTRODUCTION
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is the most common oC-, connective tissue disease accruing during childhood. It is characterized by chronic synovial inflammation and hyperplasia (Simmons and Nutting, 1989).
The effects of diseases in childhood are similar to the
effects of malnutrition (Sinclair, 1978).
As in other chronic diseases of childhood, interference with growth may occur as a part of the general metabolic disorder. However, local disturbances of growth may rise
from looming or more rarely, acceleration in the region of
the affected joints (Ansell and Bywaters, 1956).
Growth retardation may also occur in selective areas, such as in jaw. Microganthia is caused by failure of normal development of the temporomandibular growth centers or shortened finger from early hand involvement (Nelson et al., 1992).