ABP Pediatric Rheumatology study guide
ABP Pediatric Rheumatology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Pediatric Rheumatology subspecialty certification is a credential the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) makes available to pediatricians who have completed accredited training in pediatric rheumatology and satisfied the Board's admission requirements. Candidates for this exam are typically fellows finishing rheumatology training or practicing subspecialists seeking initial certification, and they are expected to manage children with immune-mediated, inflammatory, and musculoskeletal disease across the full age spectrum, including adolescents transitioning to adult care. The ABP Pediatric Rheumatology study guide has 10 sections and about 2,506 words.
01Basic and Clinical Immunology Relevant to Pediatric Rheumatic Disease
Pediatric rheumatic disease sits at the interface of innate activation and adaptive autoimmunity. Pattern-recognition receptors (TLRs, NOD-like receptors) sense microbial and endogenous danger signals, and the NLRP3 inflammasome cleaves pro-IL-1β into active IL-1β - the pathway driving systemic JIA, CAPS, and DIRA.
271 words, about 1 min02Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Other Chronic Arthritides
JIA is arthritis of unknown cause beginning before age 16 and persisting at least 6 weeks. ILAR categories - oligoarticular (≤4 joints), RF-positive polyarticular, RF-negative polyarticular, systemic, psoriatic, enthesitis-related, and undifferentiated - remain clinically useful even as newer consensus views JIA as one disease with subtypes.
269 words, about 1 min03Connective Tissue Diseases
Childhood SLE is more severe than adult-onset, with higher rates of nephritis and neuropsychiatric disease. The 2019 EULAR/ACR classification requires ANA ≥1:80 as an entry criterion followed by weighted clinical and immunologic criteria.
264 words, about 1 min04Primary Vasculitides of Childhood
IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein) is the commonest childhood vasculitis: palpable purpura on dependent areas, arthritis, abdominal pain, and nephritis. It is a clinical diagnosis; monitor blood pressure and urinalysis for at least 6 months.
243 words, about 1 min05Autoinflammatory and Periodic Fever Syndromes
Autoinflammatory syndromes reflect dysregulated innate immunity without autoantibodies or antigen-specific T cells. They produce recurrent, stereotyped episodes of fever with serositis, rash, or lymphadenopathy, with complete wellness between attacks and normal growth when well controlled.
245 words, about 1 min06Non-inflammatory Musculoskeletal and Bone Disorders, Including Pain Amplification
Growing pains are bilateral, occur late in the day in the calves and thighs, spare the joints, and resolve by morning with a normal examination. Osgood-Schlatter and Sever disease are traction apophysitides.
254 words, about 1 min07Infections and Immunodeficiencies That Mimic Rheumatic Disease
Septic arthritis is an emergency: fever, refusal to bear weight, and an acutely swollen joint require aspiration before antibiotics whenever feasible; Staphylococcus aureus predominates, with Kingella kingae in toddlers. Lyme arthritis causes a large, relatively painless knee effusion in endemic areas.
231 words, about 1 min08Laboratory Evaluation, Imaging, and Diagnostic Procedures
ANA by immunofluorescence is a screening test only; low titers occur in healthy children, so order it when objective findings suggest connective tissue disease. Anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm are specific for SLE; anti-Ro/La for Sjögren and neonatal lupus; U1RNP for MCTD; Scl-70 and centromere for scleroderma; Jo-1 for myositis.
259 words, about 1 min09Pharmacologic and Biologic Therapy, Including Toxicity Monitoring
NSAIDs control symptoms but do not alter disease course. Intra-articular corticosteroids are highly effective in oligoarthritis.
227 words, about 1 min10Rehabilitation, Functional Assessment, Psychosocial and Transitional Care
Physical and occupational therapy preserve range of motion, strength, and function. Splinting, orthotics, and assistive devices reduce deformity.
243 words, about 1 min