CORRELATION OF SERUM IGA RHEUMATOID-FACTOR LEVELS WITH DISEASE SEVERITY IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

In the present study, the IgA rheumatoid factor (IgA RF) was assayed b y ELISA in 114 sera of patients with active RA. IgA RF was found in th e sera of 38 (33.3%) patients. A total of 56 disease variables were st udied, differences in variables between IgA RF positive and negative p atients were analyzed. The presence of IgA RF was found to be associat ed with a rapid progressive course, RA activity, onset of extra-articu lar manifestations (especially systemic rheumatoid vasculitis), high I gM RF titres, circulating immune complexes, cryoglobulins, and C-react ive protein levels. There was no statistically significant difference in serum IgA levels between IgA RF seropositive and seronegative patie nts. The presence of IgA RF showed a positive correlation with the lev el of IgM RF. The results of this study showed that the determination of IgA RF has a practical use in the establishment of the severe cours e of RA with systemic damages.