Association of juvenile idiopathic arthritis with maternal infection: a case control study

OBJECTIVE: Maternal infection has been posited as a risk factor for childhood autoimmune disease such as type I diabetes. Given that similar studies in JIA are scant, our objective was to evaluate the association between Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and maternal infection. METHODS: This case–control study used an existing database that included 1290 JIA cases and 6072 controls matched on birth year. Maternal infection information was obtained from Washington State birth records. JIA diagnosis and categories were confirmed through chart review. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: JIA was not associated with maternal infection (OR = 1.02, 95%CI: 0.8–1.3). There was no association between JIA and maternal infection for persistent oligoarticular, RF negative polyarticular, or enthesitis-related JIA. There was suggestive evidence of an increased association of maternal infection with JIA in females in sex-stratified analysis. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe an increased risk of JIA in children exposed to maternal infection. Suggestive evidence of differential sex-specific results warrants further study.