There is limited data on the effect of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) on pediatric rheumatology. We examined the prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and a negative history of COVID-19 and the correlation of the presence of these antibodies with disease activity measured by juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS). In total, 62 patients diagnosed with JIA, under treatment with various antirheumatic drugs, and 32 healthy children (control group) were included. Serum samples were analyzed for inflammatory markers and antibodies and their state evaluated with the juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS). JIA patients do not have a higher seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies than healthy subjects. We found anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in JIA patients who did not have a history of COVID-19. The study showed no unequivocal correlation between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and JIA activity; therefore, this relationship requires further observation. We also identified a possible link between patients’ humoral immune response and disease-modifying antirheumatic treatment, which will be confirmed in follow-up studies.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, Arthritis, antibody, pediatric, children, drugs, novel coronavirus disease, Prevalence, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, rheumatology, Patient, Inflammatory marker, Follow-up, humoral immune response, correlation, Disease activity, observation, control group, healthy subjects, healthy children, serum sample, analyzed, examined, caused, diagnosed, evaluated, 【제목키워드】 Seroprevalence, idiopathic, Juvenile,