Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Cellular hypersensitivity and selective IgA deficiency.

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  • 1 January 1972
    • journal article
    • Vol. 10  (1) , 103-15
Abstract
Although humoral immune mechanisms are currently thought to be of pathogenetic significance in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), little is known about the role of cellular hypersensitivity in this disease. A possible association between abnormalities of humoral and cellular immunity exists in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia, who may have absent IgA, abnormal delayed hypersensitivity, or both. As IgA deficiency has been noted in 2–3% of patients with JRA, we have studied selected aspects of humoral and cellular hypersensitivity in patients with JRA and IgA deficiency and in patients with JRA and normal IgA levels. All patients had normal serum levels of complement, IgG, IgM, and IgD.