Antibody levels to enteric bacteria in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

In order to determine the immunologic status and possible susceptibility to bacterial infection in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), titer of hemagglutingating antibodies to E coli 055, E coli 086, common antigen, and Shigella polyvalent antigen were measured. Immunoglobulin G was the predominant antibody. IgA antibodies were found in higher titer in children with JRA. No significant differences were found between children with JRA do not have any deficit in antibody production to specific bacterial antigens, and any increased appearance of infection in these children is more probably due to deficiencies in cellular factors.