title: Correlation between rheumatoid factor and peripheral eosinophil count in chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.
abstract: The relationship between the blood level of rheumatoid factor (RF) and the peripheral blood eosinophil (Eo) count (white blood cellsx%Eo, Eo count) in a patient diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia was evaluated from before the onset till resolution of the disease. RF levels correlated with Eo counts, and showed a strong correlation with the logarithmic value of the Eo counts (r=0.816). RF levels tended to become elevated earlier and decline later than Eo counts or abnormal X-ray shadows. We concluded that the RF level may reflect the activity of this disease. The mechanism of RF elevation in eosinophil-activated disorders needs to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Takatsuki Red Cross Hospital, Osaka, Japan. megkudo@takatsuki.jrc.or.jp
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudou
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasuba
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012217:Rheumatoid Factor