Autoantibodies in children with juvenile dermatomyositis: A single centre experience from North-West India

The objective of this study is to determine autoantibody profile in children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Children who were diagnosed with JDM (either recently diagnosed during the study period or follow-up patients) were included in the study. Autoantibodies were detected with commercially available Immunodot kit. Thirty patients were included in the study. Nine out of thirty patients (30%) were positive for one of the 12 autoantibodies tested. Anti-SRP antibody was most common antibody detected in 3 patients followed by anti-MDA-5 antibody in 2 patients; while anti-Jo1 antibody, anti-TIF1-γ antibody, anti-Mi-2 antibody, and anti-PM-Scl antibody were positive in 1 patient each. A different disease phenotype was observed with each autoantibody. The patient with anti-Jo1 antibody had a severe systemic disease in the form of interstitial lung disease; patients with anti-MDA-5 antibody and anti-Mi2 antibody had more severe skin disease with mild muscle disease and patients with anti-SRP antibody had significant skin and muscle disease. Anti-TIF1-γ and anti-PM-Scl antibodies were seen in patients with features of overlap syndrome (myositis–scleroderma). Estimation of autoantibodies may serve as an adjunct tool in delineating and defining distinct clinical phenotypes in children diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis. They may also help in prognostication.