Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency and the clinical associations of
antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) in Juvenil rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).
Methodology: Serum ANCA were determined using the indirect immunofluorecent
technique (11F) in 30 patients with JRA and 20 healthy children matched with age and sex
as a control group. All patients were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination
and laboratory investigations with stress on the renal and vascular systems.
Results: We recorded ANCA positivity in 13(43.3%) of JRA patients only prinuclear
(p-ANCA) fluorescence pattern was seen while cytoplasmic pattern (c-ANCA) not detected,
on the other hand the ANCA was not detected in the sera of normal controls. IRA children
with polyarticular onset as well as those with renal disorder had a significantly higher
frequency of p-ANCA pattern (P<0.05). There no significant differences were detected regarding
age, disease duration, disease activity, functional capacity, uveitis and radiological
findings (P>0.05). The ANCA +ye group showed no significant differences from the
ANCA -ye group regarding ANA, RF, ESR, Hb, platelet count and WBCs (P4.05). ANCA
+ye cases have significantly higher frequency in males (P<0.001), this findings did not
seem to have clinical significance.
Conclusion: The p-ANCA is found in IRA patients, primarily among those with polyarticular
onset and renal manifestations. The positive p-ANCA pattern in JRA patients may
indicate renal affection, Yet, still more studies are needed to evaluate antigen specificity
and the prognostic value of p-ANCA. |
