title: Rheumatoid factor in non-rheumatoid black patients.
abstract: A total of 301 Black patients without rheumatic diseases was studied to estimate the prevalence and causes of positive rheumatoid factor. The latex slide test was positive in 25% of patients and 21% had a 'diagnostic' titre of 80 or more. A significant relationship between gamma-globulin levels and rheumatoid factor positivity was demonstrated. IgG appeared to be the most important in determining this relationship. The most common ailments among sero-positive patients were cirrhosis and tuberculosis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D013019:South Africa; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor