Clinical significance of anticardiolipin antibodies in juvenile idiopathicarthritis

Objective Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) have been demonstrated in a large spectrum of autoimmune diseases. However, its occurrence in childhood, in particula r in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is not well established. The pres ent study addressed the frequency and clinical significance of aCL in a gro up of JIA patients. Methods aCL (IgG and IgM isotypes), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and rheumatoid fa ctor (RF) were determined in 86 children with JIA (33 systemic, 31 polyarti cular and 22 oligoarticular onset type). Thirty-two juvenile systemic eryth ematosus lupus patients (JSLE) and 52 healthy children formed the control g roups. The disease activity and functional status of the JIA patients were scored to study their possible associations with the presence of aCL. Results Serum aCL levels above the normal range were detected in 28/86 JIA patients (32.5%), 12/32 JSLE patients (37.5%), and 3/52 healthy children (6%). Posi tive aCL levels were slightly or moderately elevated (usually below 30 GPL and 20 MPL). The presence of aCL was not associated with the presence of AN A or RE Associations between aCL and clinical parameters, such as disease o nset, duration, activity or severity could not be established. No JIA patie nt had vascular thrombosis, thrombocytopenia or "livedo reticularis". Conclusion aCL occurred in low titers in JIA children, in a similar frequency to that observed in JSLE. No association with JIA clinical parameters or the clinic al features classically linked to the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome we re observed.