Anti-T cell antibody in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
One hundred-and-seven patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) were studied for the presence or absence of an autoantibody in their sera directed against T cells. Using an indirect immunofluorescence technique on a fluorescence activated cell sorter, 71% of all patients were found to be positive on at least one sample. When studied according to the mode of onset of disease 75% of those with systemic onset, 70% with a pauciarticular, and 68% of those with a polyarticular onset were positive. Longitudinal studies appeared to suggest a correlation with disease activity, particularly in individual patients who were positive, while remission was almost invariably associated with negative testing for anti-T cell antibodies. These findings suggest that the anti-T cell antibody may be a useful diagnostic test in JRA and of benefit in monitoring disease activity and remission of disease.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies