CLINICAL-VALUE OF MEASURING THE INTERFERON-INDUCED ENZYME 2'-5'-OLIGOADENYLATE SYNTHETASE IN CHILDREN

2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, an interferon-induced enzyme and a sensitive indicator of the presence of interferon, was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in children with inflammatory disorders of known and unknown origin in order to assess the value of such a test in patient management. Differences in median 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase values in groups of children with viral or bacterial diseases or healthy children were observed. Considerable overlap of the 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase range in the three groups was observed. All children with acute viral infections had increased levels early in their disease and a low value clearly argued against an acute viral infection, However, as more than one-third of children with bacterial diseases displayed elevated 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase concentrations, distinction between a viral and bacterial cause of disease by measuring this enzyme was difficult. Estimation of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase concentrations in patients with inflammatory diseases of unknown origin, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic uveitis and glomerulonephritis did not contribute to establishing a diagnosis or measuring disease activity.