Autoantibody studies in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Advances in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a genetically predisposed, female-predominant disease, characterized by multiple organ damage, that in its most severe forms can be life-threatening. The pathogenesis of SLE is complex and involves cells of both innate and adaptive immunity. The distinguishing feature of SLE is the production of autoantibodies, with the formation of immune complexes that precipitate at the vascular level, causing organ damage. Although progress in understanding the pathogenesis of SLE has been slower than in other rheumatic diseases, new knowledge has recently led to the development of effective targeted therapies, that hold out hope for personalized therapy. However, the new drugs available to date are still an adjunct to conventional therapy, which is known to be toxic in the short and long term. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and discuss the results obtained from the use of new targeted drugs, with a look at future therapies that may be used in the absence of the current standard of care or may even cure this serious systemic autoimmune disease.

Meta-analysis: diagnostic accuracy of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody for juvenile idiopathic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of the anti-CCP test in JIA and to evaluate factors associated with higher accuracy.

METHODS

Two investigators performed an extensive search of the literature published between January 2000 and January 2014. The included articles were assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. The meta-analysis was performed using a summary ROC (SROC) curve and a bivariate random-effect model to estimate sensitivity and specificity across studies.

RESULTS

The bivariate meta-analysis yielded a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 10% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.0%-15.0%) and 99.0% (95% CI: 98.0%-100.0%). The area under the SROC curve was 0.96. Sensitivity estimates were highly heterogeneous, which was partially explained by the higher sensitivity in the rheumatoid factor-positive polyarthritis (RF+ PA) subtype (48.0%; 95% CI: 31.0%-65.0%) than in the other subtypes (17.0%; 95% CI: 14.0%-20.0%) and the higher sensitivity of the Inova assay (17.0%; 95% CI: 14.0%-20.%%) than the other assays (0.05%; 95% CI: 2.0%-11.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-CCP antibody test has a high specificity for the diagnosis of JIA. The sensitivity of this test is low and varies across populations but is higher in RF+ PA than in other JIA subtypes.

Can rituximab induce long-term disease remission in patients with intra-ocular non-infectious inflammation?

Treatment of non-infectious uveitis is based primarily on the use of systemic corticosteroids and second-line immunosuppressive drugs. However, their extensive side effect profile, particularly for steroids, has led to the increased use of other immunosuppressive drugs, as sparing capacity agents. Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric antibody, often given as a single course of 2 infusions, resulting in complete depletion of peripheral mature B cells. While it is licensed to treat refractory systemic lymphoma patients, it has also shown promising results in systemic auto-immune diseases, where a single course of treatment is able to achieve long-term clinical remission. Treatment with rituximab has been reported for various ocular conditions, suggesting it may be effective in inducing long-term disease control and other systemic immunosuppressive agents can be reduced or discontinued. When disease relapse occurs, a further course or courses can be given with good results. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the role of rituximab in treating non-infectious uveitis.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Prevalence and clinical significance of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in Indian patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

METHODS

Anti-CCP antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 78 patients with JIA which included all 3 major subtypes of the disease: pauciarticular, polyarticular afld systemic onset. Values above 5 relative units were taken as positive. Associations between anti-CCP antibodies and clinical and laboratory and radiological parameters were determined.

RESULTS

Anti-CCP antibodies were positive in only 2 of 34 (5.9%) patients with pauciarticular JIA and 3 of 17 (17.6%) of systemic,.pnset JIA, whereas it was positive in 13 of 27 (48.1%) of polyarticular JIA patients (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was seen that among patients with polyarticular JIA, RF-lgM positive patients had higher rate of anti-CCP antibody positivity with 7 of 8 (87.5%) patients having positive anti-CCP antibody (p<0.001). Similarly, patients with erosions (11/19; p<0.001) and deformities (5/-10; p<0.001) were found to have significant association with anti-CCP antibody positivity.

CONCLUSION

Anti-CCP antibodies could be detected more frequently in the sera of JIA patients with severe manifestations like-erosions and deformity. It was also more significantly associated with seropositive polyarticular JIA than other types. It can be presumed from these results that anti-CCP antibodies can be used as a marker to predict severe course of JIA at the onset to guide optimal aggressive therapy.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The objectives were to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Anti-CCP antibodies were checked by ELISA in 68 children with JIA, 38 males and 30 females with mean age of 10.6 (+/-4.02) years and disease duration of 3.7 (+/-1.8) years. Thirty-eight (56%) patients had polyarticular disease, 20 (29%) patients had oligoarticular disease and 10 (15%) patients had systemic onset disease. All patients had their antinuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and ESR checked and x-rays performed to look for erosions. Results were compared to those of 20 healthy children, 14 children with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and 30 adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-CCP antibodies were positive in 14/68 (20.6%) patients with JIA, all had polyarticular-onset disease. All patients with positive anti-CCP antibodies had RF-positive polyarthritis. Anti-CCP antibodies were negative in all patients with oligoarticular-onset and systemic-onset disease including 2 patients with extended oligoarthritis. Anti-CCP antibodies were negative in healthy and JSLE controls but were positive in 20/30 (66.5%) adults with RA. Anti-CCP antibodies correlated significantly with joint erosions in patients with JIA (p = 0.004) but no significant relation was found between anti-CCP antibodies and ANA positivity or raised ESR. These data confirm that anti-CCP antibodies are less prevalent in JIA than adult RA but are detectable in a significant proportion of RF-positive patients with polyarticular-onset JIA. The current study showed significant relation between anti-CCP positivity and erosive joint disease in JIA.

Anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies have been detected in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JRA), particularly in those with polyarticular JIA. We analyzed the presence of anti-CCP antibodies of the IgG class in sera of patients with defined juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) of various subgroups. One hundred and fifty-nine serum samples were investigated. Forty-five patients were diagnosed with JIA (15 male and 30 female) aged 1.9-17.3 years (median 12.9, mean 11.0). Thirty-eight samples were taken from patients suffering from other autoimmunopathies and 34 patients with other underlying diseases were taken at different time points in their disease course. Under 42 samples were taken from patients with noninflammatory diseases. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection of anti-CCP antibodies. Anti-CCP antibodies were found in 6.9% of all samples and in 4.4% patients with JIA. Disease duration and medication did not differ significantly between anti-CCP positive and negative patients. A review of the literature and our own results shows that anti-CCP antibodies can be detected in the sera of only some patients with JIA. Routine determination of anti-CCP cannot be recommended.

Recent advances in uveitis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Chronic scarring-type uveitis is a frequent extra-articular manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It occurs in about 20% of children with this disease, commencing typically within a few years from its onset. The risk of uveitis is greatest in antinuclear antibody-positive girls with early onset oligoarthritis. The classic clinical picture is chronic bilateral anterior uveitis, usually asymptomatic until substantial damage to intraocular structures occurs. In view of the asymptomatic nature of the condition, routine screening of juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients 2-4 times a year is crucial to prevent complications. The treatment consists of topical corticosteroids and mydriatics, in severe cases with immunosuppressive agents, and surgical management of complications. Although the prognosis of uveitis is improving, there are cases refractory to standard regimens. Patients in whom uveitis commences prior to the onset of arthritis present a special problem.

Multifocal choroiditis in patients with familial juvenile systemic granulomatosis

PURPOSE

To document clinical features of uveitis in patients with familial juvenile systemic granulomatosis.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

Ophthalmologic examination, medical history, and clinical course in 16 patients from eight families examined at six academic medical centers.

RESULTS

Of the 16 patients, 15 had evidence of panuveitis with multifocal choroiditis. One patient had only an anterior uveitis. Ischemic optic neuropathy, presumably due to a small vessel vasculopathy, and retinal vasculopathy each occurred in one patient. Ocular complications were common, including cataracts in 11, glaucoma in six, band keratopathy in six, cystoid macular edema in six, and optic disk edema in six. All 16 patients had polyarthritis, and at least nine had skin rash. Often patients were misdiagnosed initially as having either juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or sarcoidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Familial juvenile systemic granulomatosis is an uncommon genetic disease characterized by polyarthritis and uveitis. Panuveitis and multifocal choroiditis often may be present. Patients with a diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis but having a family history of the disease and multifocal choroiditis should be suspected of having familial juvenile systemic granulomatosis.

Clinical application of tests used in rheumatology

Laboratory investigations are an integral part of evaluation of a child with rheumatic disease. In rheumatic diseases markers of inflammation like CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation are usually raised. In addition, various autoantibodies like anti-nuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody help in diagnosis of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Synovial fluid analysis is useful in evaluating a patient with monoarthritis. The lab tests should not be done indiscriminately and choice of test should be based on provisional clinical diagnosis. A high pre-test probability increases the utility of test. Tests with high sensitivity should be used for screening whereas tests with high specificity should be used for confirmation of diagnosis. Finally, mere presence of an abnormal test does not mean disease.

Prevalence and clinical significance of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

BACKGROUND

Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) are considered to be specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical significance of anti-CCP in a cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

METHODS

Anti-CCP were tested by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from 109 patients with JIA (30 boys, 79 girls), with a mean age of 8.7 years (range 0.6-20.3) and mean disease duration of 3.6 years (range 3 months to 15.6 years). As control groups, anti-CCP were also tested in sera of 30 healthy children, 25 patients with juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 50 adult patients (30 with RA, 20 with SLE).

RESULTS

Positive anti-CCP values were found in sera of two patients with JIA (2%), one with polyarthritis, and one with oligoarthritis. Statistical analysis showed that anti-CCP were not associated with the presence of antinuclear antibodies, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, or erosions. In the control groups, none of the patients with juvenile onset SLE and only one of 20 adults with SLE were positive for anti-CCP, but 19/30 (63%) adults with RA showed anti-CCP positivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-CCP can be detected in children with JIA, but are less frequently present than in adults with RA.

Recognition and treatment of arthritis in children

Characteristics and differential diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and diagnostic challenge of distinguishing it from juvenile spondyloarthropathy are reviewed. Although most children with limb pain do not have JRA, a reasonable approach is offered for those afflicted.

Thrombosis associated with antiphospholipid antibody in juvenile chronic arthritis

Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) have been reported in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) without associated thrombotic events. We describe a patient with longstanding JCA who developed central retinal vein occlusion in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APL).

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in India--rarity of antinuclear antibody and uveitis

Juvenile chronic arthritis is a heterogeneous disease, having different subtypes. Among our 89 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis, we did not find even one patient with early onset pauciarticular disease with uveitis and antinuclear antibody positivity. Further, the prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies and anti-histone antibodies was very low whereas the prevalence of rheumatoid factor was similar to that reported from Western countries. Thus, the spectrum of juvenile chronic arthritis in India differs from that seen in the west. Larger population based studies of the disease are thus needed.

Immunopathogenesis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: role of T cells and MHC

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is defined as chronic arthritis of unknown etiology appearing in patients less than 16 years of age. The disease is heterogeneous and is classified as pauciarticular, polyarticular, or systemic-onset disease. A few lines of evidence suggest that T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. T cells infiltrating the synovial membrane bear markers of activation and produce cytokines. The association of particular subtypes of JRA with certain HLA class II alleles provides strong evidence in favor of T cell involvement through an HLA-peptide-T cell receptor complex. Limited data from a few patients with JRA on T cell receptor transcripts from synovial membrane or synovial fluid cells point towards oligoclonality. This further supports the concept that T cells infiltrating the synovial membrane or extravasating into synovial fluid in patients with JRA reflect antigen-driven T cell proliferation.

Pediatric rheumatic diseases

The rheumatic diseases of childhood are a relatively common and extraordinarily diverse group of illnesses; nevertheless, they are at least distantly related by similarities of immunodysregulation. These pathophysiologic relationships are reflected in affected children in similarities of historical, physical, and laboratory data as well as therapeutic intervention.

Serum IgM rheumatoid factor by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) delineates a subset of patients with deforming joint disease in seronegative juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Using human IgG as an antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we looked for the presence of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) in the sera of 74 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Nine children had RF detectable by both latex agglutination and ELISA. Forty-five percent (26 of 65) of the children who were seronegative by latex agglutination were found to be positive for IgM RF by ELISA. The prevalence of IgM RF was higher in patients with polyarticular onset disease (57.4%) than in those with pauciarticular onset (38.5%) or systemic onset (27.2%) disease. The prevalence of RF was higher in sera from patients with deforming joint disease than those without deformities (P < 0.01).

Rheumatoid factors

Rheumatoid factors (RFs) have been studied for over 50 years and are probably the most written about of any antibody. Nevertheless, the etiology of these RFs and the precise role they play in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) remain a major interest. When RFs participate in the generation of inflammation in RA and JRA, they probably do so by forming immune complexes (IC) or are themselves able to bring about the inflammatory response. Their presence has been associated with more severe disease, vasculitis, and systemic symptoms. The present review summarises the literature over the last few years on new and interesting findings on RF. This review covers an update on RF assays, RF cross-reactivity, specificity studies, immune complex formation, RF lymphocyte studies, and RF binding.