IL-6 inhibitor — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas

Initial criteria

• Diagnosis of SJIA established
• Onset of symptoms before age 16 years
• Arthritis in ≥1 joint for ≥6 weeks OR arthralgia/myalgia with fever ≥7 days, rash, and elevated inflammatory markers per EULAR/PReS 2024 guidelines
• Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) excluded or managed if present
• IL-1 or IL-6 inhibitor should be initiated as early as possible when diagnosis of SJIA is established or during a flare, irrespective of disease severity