BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) objectively reflect the severity of arthritis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). However, clear diagnostic standards do not exist for JRA; it is difficult to evaluate arthritis in children, particularly in small children and the diagnostic criteria for JRA requires an exclusion of several diseases. Therefore, if a specific test finding associated with JRA could be established, it would enable general pediatricians to make an objective diagnosis. METHODS: We measured the serum HA levels in children with joint symptoms as a chief complaint. The total number of subjects were 197 children; of these 89 had JRA, 39 had rheumatic diseases other than JRA, and 69 had non-rheumatic diseases (including systemic 31, polyarticular 40 and pauci-articular in 17), rheumatic diseases other than JRA in 39 subjects, and non-rheumatic diseases in 69 subjects. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured HA by using the HA binding protein. RESULTS: The serum level of HA was significantly higher in systemic and polyarticular JRA patients than in patients with pauci-articular JRA, with rheumatic diseases other than JRA, and non-rheumatic patients. With a cut-off value of 100 ng/mL, a diagnostic value of HA in all JRA patients was 48.3% sensitivity and 98.1% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: In children presenting with joint symptoms, serum HA measurement is useful for diagnosing systemic and polyarticular JRA.
BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) objectively reflect the severity of arthritis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). However, clear diagnostic standards do not exist for JRA; it is difficult to evaluate arthritis in children, particularly in small children and the diagnostic criteria for JRA requires an exclusion of several diseases. Therefore, if a specific test finding associated with JRA could be established, it would enable general pediatricians to make an objective diagnosis. METHODS: We measured the serum HA levels in children with joint symptoms as a chief complaint. The total number of subjects were 197 children; of these 89 had JRA, 39 had rheumatic diseases other than JRA, and 69 had non-rheumatic diseases (including systemic 31, polyarticular 40 and pauci-articular in 17), rheumatic diseases other than JRA in 39 subjects, and non-rheumatic diseases in 69 subjects. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured HA by using the HA binding protein. RESULTS: The serum level of HA was significantly higher in systemic and polyarticular JRA patients than in patients with pauci-articular JRA, with rheumatic diseases other than JRA, and non-rheumaticpatients. With a cut-off value of 100 ng/mL, a diagnostic value of HA in all JRA patients was 48.3% sensitivity and 98.1% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: In children presenting with joint symptoms, serum HA measurement is useful for diagnosing systemic and polyarticular JRA.
Authors: Leslie B Gordon; Ingrid A Harten; Anthony Calabro; Geetha Sugumaran; Antonei B Csoka; W Ted Brown; Vincent Hascall; Bryan P Toole Journal: Hum Genet Date: 2003-05-01 Impact factor: 4.132
Authors: Kara A Scheibner; Sada Boodoo; Samuel Collins; Katharine E Black; Yee Chan-Li; Paul Zarek; Jonathan D Powell; Maureen R Horton Journal: Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol Date: 2008-08-14 Impact factor: 6.914