A family study of the prevalence of antibodies to the rheumatoid arthritis associated nuclear antigen (RANA).

Sera from families with at least two members suffering from seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined for the prevalence of antibodies to the RA associated nuclear antigen (RANA). It was found that consanguineous relatives of patients had a significantly increased prevalence of anti-RANA antibodies compared to sera from a control group of families. Anti-RANA antibodies were also significantly more prevalent in the sera of familial RA patients who possessed HLA-DR4. No correlation of anti-RANA antibodies with disease associated haplotypes was observed in these families.