title: Frequency of antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor in healthy Turkish children.
abstract: The frequency of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) was investigated in 118 apparently healthy children (56 male, 62 female). The mean age was 9.8+/-2.3 years. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence, using a Hep-2 cell substrate. Nephelometry was used to quantify RF in 116 children. Five serum samples (4%, 3M, 2F) were ANA-positive in low titers and all had a speckled pattern. None of the ANA-positive children had other extractable antinuclear antibodies. Rheumatoid factor (RF) was over 25 IU/ml in four children (3%, 3F, 1M). None of these was positive for both antibodies. Our results suggest a similar frequency of ANA in healthy Turkish children even with a Hep-2 cell substrate, when compared to results of other reports. On the other hand, RF was more frequent than in other reported series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kasapçopur
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozbakir
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arisoy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ingöl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozdoğan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D012016:Reference Values; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor