Rheumatoid arthritis in a United States Public Health Service Hospital in Oklahoma: serologic manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis vary among tribal groups.
OBJECTIVE
To study the serologic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at a United States Public Health Service Hospital that serves numerous tribes in Oklahoma.


METHODS
Forty-five patients with RA were identified, and serologic studies for antinuclear antibody (ANA), rheumatoid factor, and antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens were performed. Extraarticular manifestations of RA were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Twelve of the 45 patients with RA were Kiowa. These patients were significantly more likely to have a positive ANA (75%) than the other patients with RA (28%). In addition, anti-Ro was significantly more common among Kiowa (33%) than among members of other tribes (3%). There was no difference in the extraarticular manifestations of the Kiowa compared with the other Native American tribes.


CONCLUSIONS
RA can be distinctly characterized by serology among groups of American Indians living in the same geographic area.
Scofield
R H
RH
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City 73104, USA.
Fogle
M
M
Rhoades
E R
ER
Harley
J B
JB
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000208:ethnology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States; D014492:United States Public Health Service
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor