Abstract
We measured serum levels of IgG-RF of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other collagen diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, Behcet's disease, Sjögren's syndrome, progressive systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue disease). In RA, 25.5% (24/94) exceeded cut-off value. On the other hand, 0-5.6% patients exceeded cut-off value in other groups of collagen diseases except for Sjögren's syndrome. In two cases of allergic granulomatous angiitis, the levels of IgG-RF exceeded cut-off value. The levels of IgG-RF were gradually higher following progression of X-ray stage and ADL class of RA. The levels of IgG-RF correlated with Lansbury's activity index, joint point, grip power, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, IgM-RF, C-reactive protein and TNF-α in sera. Circulating ICAM-1 in the sera was considered to be concerned with vasculitis based on our investigation. In this study, it was measured to show correlation with the levels of IgG-RF. It was suggested that the levels of IgG-RF were concerned with vasculitis as well as circulating ICAM-1.
