Is measurement of rheumatoid factor isotypes clinically useful?
Article Abstract:
Measuring levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) isotypes appears to be useful in monitoring rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RF antibody complexes seem to interact with the constant portion of immunoglobulins. Of the different immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes - IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM - elevated levels of IgA, IgE, IgG and IgM have been detected in patients with RA. In particular, increased levels of IgA RF are most strongly associated with the risk and incidence of RA. A rise in IgA RF is also associated with the development of bone erosions. However, levels of RF can be influenced by drug treatment, age of the patient and duration of the disease, suggesting that measuring RF levels may be most useful in predicting the onset, diagnosing and monitoring the early stages of RA.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
The functional affinity of IgM rheumatoid factor is related to the disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Article Abstract:
Rheumatoid factor (RF) appears to change in character as rheumatoid arthritis progresses. Researchers measured functional affinity of RF in blood samples taken from 57 rheumatoid arthritis patients. Patients with RF with high functional affinity tended to have had arthritis for shorter periods than patients with RF with low functional affinity. Consequently, patients with high functional affinity RF had lower clinical disease activity scores. Other laboratory values such as C reactive protein concentration and positive antinuclear antibody test were similar between the two groups. These results suggest that evaluating RF functional affinity serves no useful diagnostic purpose.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Deciding on progression of joint damage in paired films of individual patients: smallest detectable difference or change
Article Abstract:
Methods to examine the progression of radiological joint damage due to rheumatoid arthritis in individual patients are presented.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 2005
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Taxing assessments. Using evaluation and feedback to improve clinical placements
- Abstracts: Interpretation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation test values for assessing riboflavin status. part 2
- Abstracts: Paget's disease of bone treated with a five day course of oral tiludronate. Tiludronate for Paget's disease of bone
- Abstracts: Mental health and exercise connection. Challenge yourself. Hidden rewards of training