OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical, biological and radiological characteristics of RA with a predominant increase of IgA isotype rheumatoid factor (IgA-RF) over IgM-RF. METHODS: The presence of IgA-RF was determined by a sandwich-type ELISA with an antibody against the human IgA used to capture the immunoglobulin. Associated RF activity was revealed with a peroxidase-conjugated human IgG Fc fragment. Forty-nine RA patients were studied, of whom 19 had an increase in IgA-RF (38%). The control group comprised 30 RA patients without IgA-RF. RESULTS: None of the patients had isolated IgA-RF. In the selected 19 RA patients, the OD of IgA-RF (0.971 +/- 0.62 U) was higher than the IgM-RF (mean OD: 0.675 +/- 0.522 U). A statistically significant correlation was found between IgA-RF and IgM-RF (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001). No correlation was noted between the IgA concentration and the IgA-RF titer. The two groups were comparable for age, disease duration, sex ratio and previous DMARD use. We observed that patients with RA associated with increased IgA-RF more often had the sicca syndrome, but no other extra-articular features. RA patients with IgA RF also had more erosive disease: the mean Larsen score at the hand and wrist was 76 (SD = 68) versus 54 (SD = 60) in the controls, p < 0.02. Replacement surgery for the hip or knee was necessary in 47% of the RA patients with IgA-RF, versus 13% in the controls, p < 0.01. No association of IgA-RF with disease activity was noted. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that RA patients with a predominant increase of IgA-RF had a more erosive disease and a high frequency of associated sicca syndrome.
OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical, biological and radiological characteristics of RA with a predominant increase of IgA isotype rheumatoid factor (IgA-RF) over IgM-RF. METHODS: The presence of IgA-RF was determined by a sandwich-type ELISA with an antibody against the human IgA used to capture the immunoglobulin. Associated RF activity was revealed with a peroxidase-conjugated human IgG Fc fragment. Forty-nine RApatients were studied, of whom 19 had an increase in IgA-RF (38%). The control group comprised 30 RApatients without IgA-RF. RESULTS: None of the patients had isolated IgA-RF. In the selected 19 RApatients, the OD of IgA-RF (0.971 +/- 0.62 U) was higher than the IgM-RF (mean OD: 0.675 +/- 0.522 U). A statistically significant correlation was found between IgA-RF and IgM-RF (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001). No correlation was noted between the IgA concentration and the IgA-RF titer. The two groups were comparable for age, disease duration, sex ratio and previous DMARD use. We observed that patients with RA associated with increased IgA-RF more often had the sicca syndrome, but no other extra-articular features. RApatients with IgA RF also had more erosive disease: the mean Larsen score at the hand and wrist was 76 (SD = 68) versus 54 (SD = 60) in the controls, p < 0.02. Replacement surgery for the hip or knee was necessary in 47% of the RApatients with IgA-RF, versus 13% in the controls, p < 0.01. No association of IgA-RF with disease activity was noted. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that RApatients with a predominant increase of IgA-RF had a more erosive disease and a high frequency of associated sicca syndrome.
Authors: Amelie Bos; Esil Aleyd; Lydia P E van der Steen; P J Winter; Niels Heemskerk; Stephan M Pouw; Louis Boon; Rene J P Musters; Jantine E Bakema; Cassian Sitaru; Michel Cogné; Marjolein van Egmond Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2022-03-15 Impact factor: 7.561
Authors: Lillemor Berntson; Ellen Nordal; Anders Fasth; Kristiina Aalto; Troels Herlin; Susan Nielsen; Marite Rygg; Marek Zak; Johan Rönnelid Journal: Pediatr Rheumatol Online J Date: 2014-06-11 Impact factor: 3.054