Multi-Variate Analysis of Serum Protein in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

The content of IgG, IgA, IgM, transferrin, haptoglobin, a2 macroglobulin, al acid glycoprotein, al antitrypsin, β1C/1A globulin and β1E globulin in the sera of 172 female rheumatoid patients and 132 female non-rheumatoid subjects was measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method. Rheumatoid patients were classified into 3 groups according to their stage and class. Canonical discriminant analysis revealed that al acid glycoprotein and β1C/1A globulin was of assistance in differentiating the rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid groups. There is no significant difference in serum protein levels between rheumatoid factor positive and negative groups, whereas IgA and β1E globulin levels exhibited certain differences between these two groups. Among the results of other clinical tests, the correlation observed between ESR and serum protein levels in rheumatoid arthritis should be mentioned.