Class-specific rheumatoid factors, DR antigens, and amyloidosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Class-specific rheumatoid factors (RFs) were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 59 patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by systemic amyloidosis (RA+A), 47 patients with rheumatoid arthritis without amyloid (RA), 106 patients with other rheumatic diseases (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome), and 55 blood donors. The patients with RA+A were characterised by a high prevalence of RF negativity; the IgM RF concentration was raised in only 18 of the 59 patients (31%, p less than 0.001 v RA), the IgG RF concentration in 20 of 59 (34%, p less than 0.001 v RA), and the IgA RF concentration in 24 of 59 (41%, p less than 0.001 v RA). A higher prevalence of HLA-DR4 (p less than 0.001) and a lower prevalence of DR2 (p less than 0.05) were found among 48 tested patients with RA+A when compared with a control panel consisting of 500 blood donors. No significant differences in the prevalence of DR1-DR7 or B27 antigens were observed, however, between patients with RA with or without amyloid.
Maury
C P
CP
Fourth Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Teppo
A M
AM
Wafin
F
F
Wegelius
O
O
Friman
C
C
Koskimies
S
S
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification
D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor