Serum IgA levels and ANA behaviour in rheumatoid patients with and without toxicity to remission-inducing drugs.

IgA levels and ANA behaviour were studied in twenty-five patients suffering from toxicity to remission-inducing drugs (Tiopronin or Gold thiosulphate) and in thirty-two without any evidence of toxicity. A comparable number of patients with low IgA levels were found in the two groups. ANA test positivity correlated better with the appearance of toxicity, but the low specificity and predictivity hinder its application as a screening parameter.