Abstract

IMMUNOGLOBULIN PHENOTYPIC PROFILE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Carmen Liliana Defta, Dinu-Florin Albu, Cristina-Crengu?a Albu*, ?tefan-Dimitrie Albu* and Oana Botoac?

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Abstract

The study was performed on a representative group of 100 Caucasian patients, of Romanian nationality. The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was established based on anamnesis, clinical examination, paraclinical investigation, and laboratory analyses. Two methods were used to determine the serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and rheumatoid factor (RF): Radial immunodiffusion (RID) and Waaler-Rose test. Most patients with seropositive reactions were observed in the second stage of the disease. Regarding serum levels of immunoglobulins, IgG was increased in 58% of cases (values between 250 and 1000 IU), IgA was within normal limits in 61% of cases (70- 250 IU) and IgM had normal values in 72% of cases (100-200 IU). The results of this research have great practical applicability, because they favor the early diagnosis of the disease, guide towards the identification of patients with a high risk of the occurrence of the disease, allow the assessment of the prognosis of the disease, and favor the early application of specific preventive measures.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; Immunoglobulins; Rheumatoid factor.