RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH PRIOR TONSILLECTOMY OR APPENDECTOMY

To re-evaluate a reported association of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) wit h antecedent tonsillectomy or appendectomy, questionnaires were sent b y post to 3673 patients who had been diagnosed as having either RA or osteoarthrosis (OA). Of those who responded 1524 were RA and 1194 OA p atients. No significant differences were found between these groups wi th regard to the frequency of prior lymphoid surgery. This was also th e case when the RA group was replaced by its rheumatoid factor (Rf) po sitive or Rf negative subgroup. A separate analysis of a subgroup cons isting of 671 Rf positive RA patients for whom OA control subjects mat ched for sex and year of birth were available again showed no statisti cal differences in frequencies of tonsillectomy and appendectomy. Neit her did partitioning the group according to the age at which lymphoid surgery was performed bring any association with an increased occurren ce of RA to light. We therefore reject the hypothesis that RA is assoc iated with antecedent tonsillectomy or appendectomy.