title: Changes in levels of IgM RF and alpha 2 PAG correlate with increased disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis during the puerperium.
abstract: In this prospective study of 24 pregnant patients with rheumatoid arthritis, quiescent disease activity in 21 patients (88%) during gestation was followed by more active disease in the puerperium in 19 patients (79%). Increased disease activity was reflected in a deterioration in manual dexterity and this was found to correlate with a post-partum rise in IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM RF) (r = 0.86) and a post-partum decline in pregnancy associated alpha-2 glycoprotein (PAG) (r = 0.44). The increase in IgM RF also correlated with increased disease activity measured by a visual analogue scale (r = 0.44). Changes in IgA RF were not observed. These results suggest that PAG and IgM RF could contribute to the modulation and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St. James's Hospital and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mulpeter
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Feighery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor