THE SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULIN ANDβ‐1‐C/β‐1‐A GLOBULIN LEVELS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

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Abstract
The immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM and theβ‐1‐A globulin have been determined by the single radiation immunodiffusion technique in serum samples from 55 RA patients and 48 healthy controls. The average total Ig level, and the IgG level, were higher in RA sera. The IgA and IgM levels were also somewhat higher, but the difference was not statistically significant if the age group was taken into consideration. Theβ‐1‐A globulin content was similar in the RA sera and the controls. This globulin was positively correlated to the total Ig and to the IgG level in the RA series, and inversely to the IgM level in the normal series. The IgG level rose with increasing age, both in the RA series and in the whole series. In the normal series the IgM level diminished with increasing age.