TY - JOUR KW - Adolescent KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Arthritis, Rheumatoid KW - Child KW - Complement Activation KW - Complement C3 KW - Complement C3c KW - Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial KW - Female KW - Humans KW - leprosy KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Rheumatoid Factor KW - Tuberculosis AU - Reyes P A AU - Maluf J G AU - Curd J G AU - Vaughan J H AB -

Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a complement activating autoantibody. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the rate of catabolism of complement is closely related to the titre of RF. Therefore, we have examined whether these relationships are unique to RA or will be found in non-RA disorders in which RF may be found in the circulation. We studied patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis, leprosy, tuberculosis, and a variety of other rheumatic and vasculitic disorders. We found that in all the disorders examined the RF had a complement activating potential which was equivalent to that of the RF of RA patients. Furthermore in vivo activation of complement, as exhibited by the appearance of C3 degradation products, was significantly related to higher titres of haemolytically active RF in non-RA as well as the RA group. In these respects, therefore, the RF in RA and non-RA patients is indistinguishable. A possible survival value for RF is discussed.

BT - Clinical and experimental immunology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6883809?dopt=Abstract DA - 1983 Aug IS - 2 J2 - Clin. Exp. Immunol. LA - eng N2 -

Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a complement activating autoantibody. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the rate of catabolism of complement is closely related to the titre of RF. Therefore, we have examined whether these relationships are unique to RA or will be found in non-RA disorders in which RF may be found in the circulation. We studied patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis, leprosy, tuberculosis, and a variety of other rheumatic and vasculitic disorders. We found that in all the disorders examined the RF had a complement activating potential which was equivalent to that of the RF of RA patients. Furthermore in vivo activation of complement, as exhibited by the appearance of C3 degradation products, was significantly related to higher titres of haemolytically active RF in non-RA as well as the RA group. In these respects, therefore, the RF in RA and non-RA patients is indistinguishable. A possible survival value for RF is discussed.

PY - 1983 SP - 391 EP - 6 T2 - Clinical and experimental immunology TI - Association of rheumatoid factor with complement activation in rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. VL - 53 SN - 0009-9104 ER -