[High levels of blood IgA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
METHODS
Serum levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were measured in 46 patients (34 women, 12 men) with rheumatoid arthritis. The duration of the disease ranged from 6 months to 30 years; the patients follow-up ranged from 6 months to 12 years.


RESULTS
Serum IgA levels higher than the normal (> 450 mg/dl) were found in 20 patients (43.4%). These patients had mean levels of IgG, C3c and erythrocyte sedimentation rate significantly higher than the patients with normal IgA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant relationship between the IgA levels and the activity of the disease or its clinical and radiological features was not observed. On the other hand, a relationship was observed between IgA levels and the mean duration of the disease which was significantly more prolonged in patients with high IgA serum levels.
Ferlazzo
B
B
Istituto di Patologia Medica, Università degli Studi, Messina.
Bonanno
D
D
Quattrocchi
P
P
Mazzeo
L
L
Barrile
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M