2 research outputs found
Rheumatoid factor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
SIR, In the report by Helin et al in the Annals' the authors
suggest that rheumatoid factor (RF) protects against
nephropathy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE).
We have reviewed our series of 78 patients with SLE
fulfilling the criteria of the above report for evaluating
nephropathy and assaying RF. The Waaler-Rose sensitised
sheep cell agglutination test was used to measure RF, with
titres equal or greater than 1/64 considered positive. Both
groups with and without renal disease were comparable for
age and sex. A renal biopsy was performed in 38 out of 40
patients with nephropathy..