RESUMO
The presence of Iymphocytotoxic antibodies [LCA] in 27 patients with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis [JRA] and 16 normal controls was studied by a Iymphocytotoxicity assay in an attempt to assess their possible role in the immunopathogenesis of the disease. Peripheral blood T-Iymphocyte subpopulations were also investigated using an indirect immunofluorescent test. A significant increase in LCA, together with a significant decrease in T suppressor cell percentage were noted in patients when compared with controls denoting that LCA are possibly an important factor in inibiting generation of suppressor T cells, thus leading to an overactivity of T- helper cells which in turn would result in autoantibodies and immune complex formation and deposition