Plasma Total Prekallikrein/Kallikrein Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis with and without Amyloidosis

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Abstract
Following exposure to kaolin, plasma samples were assayed for total prekallikrein/kallikrein activity in 19 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 39 patients with RA complicated by amyloidosis, 13 patients with nonamyloid nephropathy and 54 healthy subjects. Increased total kallikrein activity was found in RA patients with amyloidosis and in patients with nonamyloid nephropathy. The concentrations of the plasma kallikrein inhibitors Cl‐inactivator and α2‐macroglobulin were normal in RA patients without amyloidosis, whereas they were increased in patients with amyloidosis as well as in patients with nonamyloid nephropathy. The results suggest that the increased activity of plasma kaolinstimulated kallikrein in RA patients with amyloidosis is due to the nephropathy per se and probably reflects increased levels of prekallikrein.