The authors report a follow-up study of 24 patients who initially fulfilled ARA criteria for juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). After an evolution period of 6 to 50 years, diagnosis was revised in three patients: one suffered from mixed connective tissue disease, another from psoriatic arthropathy and the last one from Crohn's disease. Among the 21 remaining JCA patients, 16 had still an inflammatory disease when last examined and 2 of these 16 died from amyloidosis. The articular involvement appears to be similar in systemic and polyarticular disease. The physical disability can be correctly appreciated only after a 10 years evolution period. Six patients were functionally classed in grade 4. Their loss of motility was due to hip or/and knee involvement. Five of them improved after complex orthopaedic surgery and the last could not undergo anaesthesia. Both articular involvement and the fact of the chronicity of illness account for psychological and social inaptitudes. Different therapeutics are appreciated and compared.