Elevated serum interferon-alpha activity in juvenile dermatomyositis: associations with disease activity at diagnosis and after thirty-six months of therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of juvenile dermatomyositis (DM). The aim of this study was to examine serum IFNalpha activity in a cohort of children with juvenile DM to determine relationships between IFNalpha and indicators of disease activity and severity.

Methods

Thirty-nine children with definite/probable juvenile DM were included in the study. Serum samples were obtained at the time of diagnosis from 18 untreated patients with juvenile DM. Second samples from 11 of these patients were obtained at 24 months, while they were receiving treatment, and third samples were obtained from 7 of these patients at 36 months. The remaining 21 children were studied 36 months after their initial diagnosis. Serum IFNalpha activity was mea

SUBMITTER: Niewold TB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2697261 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature