title: Agalactosyl IgG: an aid to differential diagnosis in early synovitis.
abstract: Sixty consecutive patients presenting with early-onset synovitis were studied by measuring rheumatoid factor (RF) titers and the percentage of oligosaccharide chains attached to the C gamma 2 domain of IgG that lack galactose (GAL[0]). After 2 years of followup, 39 patients (65%) had developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 21 had developed a variety of other inflammatory joint diseases. A combination of RF positivity and GAL(0) levels above the age-corrected mean gave a positive predictive value for a diagnosis of RA in 94% of these patients. These observations may well have clinical utility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, St. Alban's City Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, England.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sumar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bodman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roitt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isenberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013585:Synovitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C064155:agalactosyl IGG; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor