title: Antiperinuclear factor--clinical, serological and genetic correlates in Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The possible association between the presence of antiperinuclear factor (APF) and clinical and genetic parameters was investigated in 54 Israeli patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid factor (RF) was detected in the sera of 43 patients (80%) and APF was positive in 33 (61%). No significant statistical differences were found in the presence of HLA-DR4 and/or DR1 between APF-positive and -negative patients. Furthermore, neither the Ritchie articular index nor the patient's functional class correlated with the presence of APF. The results of our study suggested that although Israeli patients have a different genetic background, the presence and behaviour of APF is similar to that of other Caucasian populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Tel Aviv Souraski Medical Centre, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tishler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maran
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langevitz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Livneh
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gazit
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gilburd
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Youinou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; C030902:antiperinuclear factor; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor