Enzyme linked (ELISA) immunoabsorbent assay for the detection of hidden 19S IgM rheumatoid factors in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Determination of hidden IgM rheumatoid factors (RF) in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) offers advantages for diagnosis and in following disease activity. Sera from 30 patients with JRA were assayed for RF by latex fixation test (LFT), sensitized sheep cell agglutination test (SCAT), nephelometry, and by ELISA. IgM containing fractions were prepared by chromatography and assayed for hidden RF by the hemolytic method and ELISA. Ten patients were seropositive by LFT. All of them gave positive tests on the serum for RF with the SCAT, nephelometry, and ELISA, and on the IgM containing fractions by the hemolytic assay and ELISA. Seventeen patients seronegative by LFT were positive for hidden RF by the hemolytic test and ELISA on the IgM containing fraction. When unfractionated serum was used, 15 were positive by ELISA. Three patients were seronegative and also negative for hidden RF by the hemolytic assay and ELISA. Thus, only 2 of 30 patients had discordant results between the hemolytic assay on the IgM containing fraction and the ELISA on the serum. Our results indicate the ELISA on the serum in conjunction with the LFT offers a simple, rapid, alternative test for hidden 19S IgM RF in JRA patients.