Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies linked to growth failure
10 Nov 2025
Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (JIIM) negatively affect pubertal development and may even lead to growth failure, according to a study.
“The effect of hormonal changes or delayed puberty has been less well studied,” said the investigators, who conducted a systematic review using the databases of Embase, Medline, PubMed, PsychInfo, Cochrane, and Web of Science to identify studies published in English from inception to December 2024.
Data on puberty- and development-related outcomes were extracted. Finally, meta-analyses were carried out for outcomes measured consistently across studies.
A total of 5,838 records were identified, of which 24 met the eligibility criteria. The inter-rater reliability was κ=0.93 for abstract screening and κ=1.0 for full-text screening.
Among the eligible articles, 18 focused on growth, with 14 showing decreased height or growth failure. A meta-analysis of seven studies revealed an overall growth failure prevalence of 17.90 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 10.74–25.06).
Delays of secondary sex characteristics or puberty were reported in five articles. Of the five articles that discussed age of menarche, four reported delays and one did not.
“Endocrine abnormalities should be actively screened for and treated,” the investigators said. “Additional research is needed to assess long-term effects.”
JIIM are autoimmune conditions that result in skin and muscle inflammation, which can cause insulin resistance and disruptions in various hormone axes. Such disruptions may lead to endocrine damage and affect pubertal development and growth, according to the investigators.