Author/Editor		Schmidt, Z; Brozik, M; Megyeri, A; Meretey, K
Title		Decrease of rheumatoid factor levels by methotrexate therapy in elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis patients
Type		članek
Source		New Eur Rheumatol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 1, št. 1
Publication year		1993
Volume		str. 21-4
Language		eng
Abstract		Clinical improvement and serum RF levels were studied in patients with elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis/ORA/ on MTX versus other second line therapies. For a better analysis isotype specific ELISA technique was used in addition to agglutination tests for RF determination. Clinical activity was reduced in both treatment modality groups. No changes in RF levels were detected in the control group. A significant decrease in RF titers and IgM RF levels occurred in patients on MTX, whereas the decrease in IgA RF was not significant. No correlation was found between clinical activity and RF levels. Thus, MTX appears to exert a direct suppressive effect on IgM RF production, which may contribute to its high therapeutic effcacy in ORA.
Descriptors		ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID METHOTREXATE AGED RHEUMATOID FACTOR TREATMENT OUTCOME