Mycoplasma pneumoniae Seroprevalence and Total IgE Levels in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Abstract

<i>M. pneumoniae</i> infection should be actively sought in children developing immune-mediated diseases, including patients affected with JIA and, especially, in oligopolyarticular forms. There is some evidence that total serum IgE levels may tend to be increased in patients with oligopolyarticular JIA subtype and especially in those resulting as <i>M. pneumoniae</i> seropositive. However, further and focused research is needed to confirm these preliminary results and to clarify the relation between <i>M. pneumoniae</i> infection, atopic status, and immune-mediated arthritis.