DETECTION OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES IN CHILDREN BY INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE TEST IN A PAEDIATRIC TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Autoimmune diseases in children often present with nonspecific manifestations, making early diagnosis challenging. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing by indirect immunofluorescence (IIFT) is useful for screening suspected autoimmune disorders. The aim is to detect autoimmune diseases in children by IIFT and correlate clinical diagnosis with laboratory findings. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 88 children with clinical suspicion of autoimmune disease at Niloufer Hospital for Women and Children, Hyderabad, from March to October 2023. Serum samples were tested by IIFT using HEp-2 and primate liver cells. Results: ANA positivity was detected in 10 out of 88 (11.3%) children. Among positive cases, 90% were female children. Nuclear homogeneous was the predominant pattern (90%), followed by nuclear speckled (10%). Fluorescence intensity was 2+ and 3+ in 50% each. Fever and rash were present in all positive cases, while joint pain, fatigue, and oral ulcers occurred in 30%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. All ANA-positive cases were clinically diagnosed with SLE. Conclusion: IIFT is a useful screening tool for ANA detection in children with suspected autoimmune disease. Clinical correlation with IIFT pattern and fluorescence intensity aids appropriate diagnosis.