Analysis of serum rheumatoid factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Han, Tibetan and Hui nationalities in Qinghai.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivities, specificities and correlations of serum rheumatoid factors across different races in RA patients.

METHODS

Serum rheumatoid factors were tested in 150 subjects who were divided into 3 groups: group 1 including 25 Han RA patients (Han-RA) and 25 healthy Han control groups, group 2 including 25 Tibetan RA patients (T-RA) and 25 the healthy Tibetan control group and group 3 including 25 Hui-RA patients (Hui-RA) and 25 Hui healthy controls.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in ESR, A-CCP, CRP, RF, SAA, SFe, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 between RA patients and the corresponding control subjects in all 3 groups (P < 0.01 for ESR, A-CCP, CRP, RF, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17, P < 0.05 for SAA and SFe). In Tibetan RA, the levels of A-CCP were significantly lower than the Han-RA and Hui-RA. SAA of T-RA was significantly lower than the Han-RA (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

ESR, CRP, RF, A-CCP, SAA, SFe and IL serum rheumatoid factors were useful biomarkers for RA detection in all three races.