ISSN:
1437-160X
Schlagwort(e):
Key words Rheumatic diseases
;
Rheumatoid factor
;
Isotypes
;
Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis
Quelle:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Thema:
Medizin
Notizen:
Abstract The diagnostic value of measuring rheumatoid factor (RF) by agglutination or isotype-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was compared. The study included 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 205 patients with various other rheumatic conditions. Of the RA patients, 74% were RF-positive by agglutination and 90% had one or more RF isotypes elevated by ELISA compared to 14% and 22%, respectively, of the other patients. Strikingly, 70% of the RF-positive RA patients had an elevation of two or more RF isotypes compared to only 16% of the other RF-positive patients (P〈0.0001). Furthermore, a combined elevation of IgM and IgA RF was found in 52% of the RF-positive RA patients, but only in two (4%) of the other RF-positive patients (P〈0.0001). It is concluded that a combined elevation of IgM and IgA RF is highly specific for RA and is very rarely found in rheumatic diseases other than RA. Isotype-specific RF assays are therefore diagnostically superior to agglutination tests. The detection of the RA-specific RF isotype pattern may be particularly helpful early in the course of RA even before the disease is fully differentiated.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002960050069
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