title: Specificity of IgM antiglobulins produced in rheumatoid arthritis and tropical infections.
abstract: The measurement of rheumatoid factors is of limited value in West Africa due to the low rheumatoid factor seroprevalence among patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the increased seroprevalence among healthy individuals and those with infectious diseases in the region. Using ELISA methods, we have been able to increase the specificity of rheumatoid factor measurement although the sensitivity of this test remains low. Furthermore, among the infectious diseases studied, there was no preferential binding of rheumatoid factors to the Fab gamma portion of immunoglobulin over the Fc gamma portion.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adebajo
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cawston
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hazleman
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000032:analysis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor