Serum auto-antibodies in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

We investigated the relationship between the serum levels of autoantibodies in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA] to evaluate the diagnostic value of each serological marker and of associations of markers with disease activity. The study was conducted on sixty JRA patients [42 girls, and 18 boys] and 60 controls matching in age and sex. The patients were classified as pauciarticular [24, 40%], polyarticular [27, 45%], and systemic onset [9,15%]. Nine autoantibodies [AFA, AKA, ANA, ANCA, ANTIKU, APF, dsDNA, ssDNA, PDA] were detected and correlated with disease onset and activity markers as well as HLA-DR typing, alleles being done with PCR. To find out correlations between autoantibodies and disease character, we categorized the patients either active [41,68.3%] or in remission [19,31.7%]. The levels of autoantibodies was significantly higher in JRA active group than in remission, [p<0.0001]. No significant correlation was found between autoantibodies and HLA-DR typing. The frequencies of HLA-DR8, DR6, and DR5 were significantly higher among JRA group as compared to normal controls. There was a significant correlation between dsDNA and morning stiffness, ssDNA, EAM, ESR and MS. The level of autoantibodies differed between active JRA and patients in remission. These markers were prognostic in predicting disease outcome: