IgG and IgM rheumatoid factor levels parallel interleukin-6 during the vasculitic phase in a patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome.
A 43-year-old woman with a 10-year history of bronchial asthma developed marked peripheral blood eosinophilia and symptoms of vasculitis. A diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) was made, and her symptoms were successfully treated with low-dose prednisolone. Serum rheumatoid factors (RF) of both IgG and IgM, but not IgA or IgE, subclasses transiently appeared in accordance with the vasculitic phase. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels also transiently increased in this phase and the peak level was reached just prior to the maximum of RF elevation, suggesting the role of IL-6 as an inducer of RF. RF and IL-6 seemed to be involved in the pathogenesis of the vasculitis in this patient.
D000328:Adult; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor