ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODIES USING HEP-2 CELLS IN NORMAL-CHILDREN AND IN CHILDREN WITH COMMON INFECTIONS

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) immunofluorescence tests, using HEp-2 cells, were performed on 100 children without a history of connective tissue disease. Eighteen (18%) were positive at titres greater-than-or-equal-to 1:40, nine (9%) being greater than 1:160. Interlaboratory variability was demonstrated with some specimens. No association with possible intercurrent infection was found to account for positive results. Of 44 children with proven infections five (11%) were positive. Antinuclear antibody may be found in some normal children when using the sensitive HEp-2 cell substrate, and in the absence of clinical features should not necessarily suggest the presence of a connective tissue disease.