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Published on: August 7, 2017

Perinatal and early childhood risk factors associated with rheumatoid factor positivity in a healthy paediatric

Kendra A Young1, Lezlie A Parrish, Gary O Zerbe

  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Box B119, Denver, CO 80262, USA.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|January 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Rheumatoid factor presence in children depends on HLA-DR4 status. For HLA-DR4-negative children, breastfeeding may reduce autoimmunity risk, while environmental tobacco smoke may increase it.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Autoimmunity
  • Genetics and Immunology

Background:

  • Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an autoantibody associated with autoimmune diseases.
  • Identifying early-life risk factors for RF in children is crucial for understanding autoimmunity development.
  • The role of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes in RF development is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate perinatal and childhood risk factors associated with rheumatoid factor (RF) presence in healthy children.
  • To explore the influence of HLA-DR4 genotype on these risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY) cohort.
  • Tested 651 children (average age 6.4 years) for RF in serum samples.
  • Collected prospective exposure data and performed HLA-DR4 genotyping using polymerase chain reaction.

Main Results:

  • RF positivity was observed in 23 out of 651 children.
  • In HLA-DR4-negative children, RF positivity was linked to shorter breastfeeding duration (<3 months), environmental tobacco smoke exposure, and non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity.
  • No significant risk factors for RF positivity were identified in HLA-DR4-positive children.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood risk factors for rheumatoid factor positivity are dependent on HLA-DR4 genotype.
  • For HLA-DR4-negative children, breastfeeding may be protective against autoimmunity, while environmental tobacco smoke may be a risk factor.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and autoimmunity in children.
Abstract

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