RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The functional affinity of IgM rheumatoid factor is related to the disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP 126
OP 129
DO 10.1136/ard.56.2.126
VO 56
IS 2
A1 Saraux, A
A1 Bendaoud, B
A1 Dueymes, M
A1 Le Goff, P
A1 Youinou, P
YR 1997
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/56/2/126.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE To determine the relevance of the functional affinity of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) to the clinical and serological characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.METHODS The functional affinity of IgM RF of 57 seropositive rheumatoid arthritis patients was evaluated by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay based on the use of a chaotropic agent. The inhibition index was taken as an estimate of functional affinity. The patient group was divided into high functional affinity subgroup 1 (functional affinity < 0.5, n = 37) and low functional affinity subgroup 2 (functional affinity > 0.5, n = 20). The medical records of all patients were reviewed with a particular note of the disease activity and the articular damage score.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 indices were lower in the former than in the latter (P < 0.01, 0.001, and 0.01, respectively). In contrast, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, C reactive protein concentrations, antinuclear antibody, and HLA DR4 prevalences were similar in the two subgroups.CONCLUSIONS Different forms of RF are present during progression of the disease.