CHANGES IN GLYCOSYLATION OF IGG DURING FASTING IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a higher proportion of ag alactosyl IgG than healthy individuals. Glycosylation status was exami ned in 26 RA patients who fasted for 7-10 days and afterwards followed a vegetarian diet for 3.5 months. The decrease in the proportion of a galactosyl IgG correlated significantly with the clinical improvement after the fasting period, but not after the vegetarian diet period. Al though the glycosylation status of IgG may have played a role in the i mprovement of disease during the fasting period, it did not seem to be associated with, and therefore responsible for, the clinical improvem ent observed after the vegetarian diet.