IGG RHEUMATOID-FACTOR, COMPLEMENT AND IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN RHEUMATOID SYNOVITIS AND VASCULITIS - COMPARATIVE AND SERIAL STUDIES DURING CYTO-TOXIC THERAPY

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (1) , 54-63
Abstract
IgG and IgM rheumatoid factors (IgG-RF and IgM-RF), complement (C) and 3 assays for immune complexes were measured in 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated by chronic active synovitis or vasculitis. Patients with vasculitis had relatively inactive arthritis but had higher titers of rheumatoid factors, especially IgG-RF, anticomplementary activity (ACA) and lower levels of C4 than those with synovitis. C1q-binding and platelet aggregation (PA) levels were similar in both groups. Serial measurements during cytotoxic therapy showed a close temporal relationship between the clinical features of vasculitis and levels of IgG-RF, ACA and C4 with remission and with relapse. Immune complexes containing IgG-RF which activate C and are detected by ACA probably are useful markers of rheumatoid vasculitis and may be important in its pathogenesis.