Abstract
Reports of increased β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (β-NAGase) activity, the enzyme responsible for degradation of streptococcal A carbohydrate (A-CHO), in patients with collagen disease prompted study of the antibody response to A-CHO in 41 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Antibody titers to two streptococcal protein antigens, streptolysin O (ASO) and desoxyribonuclease B (anti-DNAse B), as well as antibody levels to A-CHO (A-antibody) were assayed on JRA sera obtained prior to anti-inflammatory therapy and on matched controls. While no significant difference in ASO and anti-DNAse B response was found, A-antibody levels were significantly lower among JRA patients (mean antibody levels: 0.25 vs. 0.43, p < 0.01). Comparison of those JRA patients and controls with high ASO and/or anti-DNAse B titers revealed elevated A-antibody in 12/15 (80%) of controls and in only 3/10 (30%) of JRA patients (p = 0.01). Studies on 21 patients with other collagen vascular diseases (excluding rheumatic fever) failed to show similar differences. Isohemagglutinin levels performed to date on six JRA patients were normal, suggesting that JRA patients do not have a generalized inability to respond to carbohydrate antigens. The depressed A-antibody levels in JRA patients may be due to increased B-NAGase activity and prompt degradation of A-CHO following infection.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shulman, S., Ayoub, E. DEPRESSED LEVELS OF ANTIBODY TO GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL CARBOHYDRATE IN JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. Pediatr Res 8, 418 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00470
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00470