Antiperinuclear factor and antibodies to the stratum corneum of rat esophagus in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

We analyzed the frequency and clinical correlates of antiperinuclear factor (APF) and antibodies to the stratum corneum of rat esophagus in 86 childre n with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 32 children with juvenile syste mic lupus erythematosus, and 52 healthy children. Forty-two patients with J IA (49%) were positive for APF. No association was observed between APF and current age, sex, JIA subtype, age at disease onset, or disease duration. APF was found in one patient with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and in no healthy child. Antibodies to the stratum corneum of rat esophagus we re detected in 3 patients with polyarticular JIA. APF, may be a valuable to ol in the differential diagnosis of JIA.