Anti-perinuclear Factor as Diagnostic Marker in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease. It is associated with several auto antibodies which can serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, Anti perinuclear Factor (APF) was evaluated as a biomarker in comparison with Rheumatoid Factor (RF) in Rheumatoid Arthritis.


METHODS
Fifty two sera of patients with RA (mean age 48±15.8), 23 sera of Patient control group (mean age 32.5 ± 16.9) and 30 sera of Healthy control group (mean age 32.1± 16.9) were analysed. The method is based on the binding of APF to perinuclear keratohyalin granules of buccal mucosal cell and its detection using a fluorescently labeled anti human total antiserum.


RESULTS
APF were found in 71.2 %(37/52) of patients with RA. The sensitivity and specificity for APF from 1/5 serum dilution was 71.2% and 94.3% respectively. RF test had higher sensitivity (88.5%) compare to the APF test (71.2%), but its specificity was (86.8%) less than APF (94.3%). There was no significant relationship between the onset of APF and severity of disease but there was significant relationship between the APF titer and severity of disease (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that APF test is a valuable serological tool for the diagnosis of the disease and a useful serological marker to differentiate from the other inflammatory rheumatoid diseases.
Researcher, Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences , Babol, Iran .
Zeinab
Z
Abedian
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad, Iran .
Masoud
M
Sagafi
Associate Professor, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran .
Saeid Abedian
SA
Kenari
Lecturer, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran .
Farshideh
F
Abedian
Autoimmunity; Biomarker; Keratohyaline granules; Rheumatoid factor