CORRELATIONS BETWEEN CHANGE IN DISEASE-ACTIVITY AND CHANGES IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE DERMATOMYOSITIS

Objective. To investigate whether changes in peripheral blood lymphocy tes correlate with changes in disease activity in juvenile dermatomyos itis (JDM). Methods. Clinical changes in disease expression measured b y a disease activity score were correlated with changes in percentages of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. Results. Changes in the perce ntage of peripheral blood CD19 positive lymphocytes (B cells) correlat ed with changes in disease activity (Spearman rank coefficients = 0.47 , p = 0.02). There were no significant correlations in disease activit y with changes of T cell subsets or the T cell activation markers CD25 or DR. Conclusion. Change in the percentage of peripheral blood B cel ls correlates with change in disease activity in patients with JDM. Th is variable may be of use as an indicator of immunologic activity and response to therapy.