Serum rantes [regulated upon activation, normal T. cell expressed and secreted] in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT

This case-control study was performed on 80 subjects of whom 30 had JRA. Thirty had JSLE and 20 were healthy age and sex matched subjects. All patients were subjected to a detailed history taking, thorough clinical examination, activity score indices [articular index [AI] score and SLE disease activity index [SLEDAI] score in JRA and JSLE, respectively] and laboratory investigations for the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases and the presence of active rheumatic process; namely, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], complement 3 and 4 [C3 and C4], rheumatoid factor [RF], anti- nuclear antibodies [ANA], anti-double stranded DNA [anti-dsDNA] antibodies in addition to complete urine analysis and total 24 hours urinary proteins. Serum RANTES was measured by quantitative immunoenzymometric assay in all patients during the active state and after remission in 17 JRA patients and 10 JSLE patients as well as in sera of 20 healthy controls. The results of the study are given and discussed