Correlation of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics with Rheumatoid Factor Seropositivity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
- Author:
Maizatul Akmal Othman
;
Wan Syamimee Wan Ghazali
;
Nurul Khaiza Yahya
;
Kah Keng Wong
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
autoimmune disease;
rheumatoid arthritis;
rheumatoid factor;
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
2016;23(6):52-59
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: The rheumatoid factor (RF) blood test is the most commonly adopted test
for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients who are seropositive for RF might face
a greater likelihood of developing more aggressive symptoms.
Methods: Our goal was to study the demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as
their correlation with RF seropositivity, among a series of 80 RA patients aged ≥ 18 years who
attend Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).
Results: Of the 80 RA patients included in this study, 66 (82.5%) were female and 14
(17.5%) were male. No significant associations between RF seropositivity and demographic and/
or clinical characteristics or other laboratory investigations were observed, including gender,
morning stiffness, individual joint involvement (from multiple sites of the body), and erythrocyte
sedimentation rate (ESR) measurement. However, a significant association between RF
seropositivity and patients aged ≥ 50 was found (P = 0.032).
Conclusion: RF seropositivity was found to be more common in much older RA patients.
- Full text:P020170717527689799434.pdf
