Levels of serum immunoglobulins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

SUMMARY Thirty-three patients with early peripheral synovitis were followed up for two to four years in order to study the relationship between fluctuations in rheumatoid factor (RF) levels and indices of clinical activity. Twenty-eight of these patients developed classical/definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Seventeen patients developed erosive disease of their hands and wrists and thirteen had a positive RF agglutination test. Nineteen patients had raised levels of IgM, RF, IgA, RF, or IgG RF as measured by isotype-specific ELISA techniques. The within-patient fluctuations in IgA RF levels correlated significantly with the corresponding fluctuations in grip strength (p<0-05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (p<0-01), and a composite index of disease activity (p<002). IgG RF levels were also associated with changes in ESR and grip strength, but IgM RF showed only a weak association with fluctuations in ESR and not with any other clinical parameters. It is suggested that serum IgA RF may be a useful marker of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.Rheumatoid factors (RF) of the agglutinating type occur in over 75% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

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“…Marcolongo et al 24 reported that total serum. IgA was raised in most RA patients but raised total serum IgG was found only in seropositive RA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospective study of early rheumatoid arthritis. II. Association of rheumatoid factor isotypes with fluctuations in disease activity.

Withrington¹,

Teitsson²,

Valdimarsson³

et al. 1984

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

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“…In acute tissue damage which follows prostatic cryosurgery there is a drop in the serum level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) (Drylie et al, 1968), while chronic tissue damage, like that occurring in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, is associated with raised serum IgG (Marcolongo et al, 1967). The causes of these changes in immunoglobulin levels are not known, but it has been suggested that they are due either to an associated mild subclinical infection or to the release of antigenic material from necrotic tissue which evokes an immunological response.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raised Serum IgG Levels in Hypertension

Ebringer¹,

Doyle²

1970

BMJ

111

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“…Alterations in the type and quantity of serum immunoglobulins in rheumatic diseases have been well appreciated (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). The participation of these globulins in the formation of immune complexes has given them a posReceived for publication 28 July 1969. sible pathogenetic role in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1,2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gammaglobulin serum concentrations appear to have little diagnostic or prognostic significance in any single patient and do not differ significantly in these two diseases. Studies in patients with SLE (3) and RA (4)(5)(6) suggest that there is a significant mean increase of serum IgG levels in both these disorders. Elevations in serum IgG levels, however, are not uniform and many values fall within the normal range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%