title: Relationship of rheumatoid factor to lung diffusion capacity in smoking and non-smoking patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: We studied the relationship of serum rheumatoid factor (RF) and certain other variables to lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In non-smoking patients none of the examined variables correlated significantly to DLCO whereas in smokers RF showed a significant (p < 0.01) negative correlation in this respect. These results indicate that smoking in connection with RF may contribute to reduced DLCO in RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Satalinna Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luukkainen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saltyshev
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pakkasela
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nordqvist
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D012217:Rheumatoid Factor