Prevalence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Abstract

Our data suggest that the diagnostic importance of ANCA in JCA is restricted to only a few JCA patients. In these cases, however, ANCA positivity supports the diagnosis of JCA. Further studies are needed to substantiate this finding, as well as possible subgroup specificities. Standardized techniques of granulocyte fixation and antigen specific tests are needed to produce comparable results in different study groups.