[The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and the rheumatoid factor in the native inhabitants of northeastern Siberia].

AIM

The study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) prevalence among residents of eastern Chukotka--Eskimos and Chukchi.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Simultaneous total survey covered 974 of 1176(83.3%) residents of 4 villages in the eastern Chukotka.

RESULTS

RA was diagnosed in 7(0.7%) examines. Clinical picture of the disease was characterized by for the most part symmetric affection of hand and feet joints, absence of systemic manifestations, favourable course and frequent absence of RF. RF positive titers (1:160 and higher) occurred in 23 of 804 examinees (2.9%), among Eskimos--6%. This was significantly higher than in Chukchi (2.0%) and in subjects of mixed nationality (1.3%).

CONCLUSION

Prevalence and clinical picture of RA in residents of northeast Siberia were comparable with such observed in other epidemiological surveys in Russia and Alaska.