The functional affinity of IgM rheumatoid factor is related to the disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

doi:10.1136/ard.56.2.126

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 1997;56:126-129; doi:10.1136/ard.56.2.126

Ann Rheum Dis 1997;56:126-129 ( February )

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The functional affinity of IgM rheumatoid factor is related to the disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis A Saraux,^a B Bendaoud,^b M Dueymes,^b P Le Goff,^a P Youinou^b

^a Brest University Medical School Hospital, Brest, BP 824, F 29609 Brest cedex, France: Unit of Rheumatology , ^b Laboratory of Immunology

Correspondence to: Dr A Saraux.

Accepted for publication 26 October 1996

OBJECTIVE $---$ To determine the relevance of the functional affinity of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) to the clinical and serological characteristicsof patients with rheumatoidarthritis.
METHODS $---$ The functional affinity of IgM RF of 57 seropositive rheumatoid arthritis patients was evaluated by an enzyme linked immunosorbentassay based on the use of a chaotropic agent. The inhibition indexwas taken as an estimate of functional affinity. The patient groupwas divided into high functional affinity subgroup 1 (functionalaffinity < 0.5, n = 37) and low functional affinity subgroup 2(functional affinity > 0.5, n = 20). The medical records of allpatients were reviewed with a particular note of the disease activityand the articular damagescore.
RESULTS $---$ The disease duration was shorter (P < 0.01) in subgroup 1 patients [7.9 (SD 6.4) years] than in subgroup 2 patients [13.4(11.29) years], so that Ritchie's, Lee's, and Steinbrocker's indiceswere lower in the former than in the latter (P < 0.01, 0.001,and 0.01, respectively). In contrast, erythrocyte sedimentationrates, C reactive protein concentrations, antinuclear antibody,and HLA DR4 prevalences were similar in the twosubgroups.
CONCLUSIONS $---$ Different forms of RF are present during progression of thedisease.

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