Multi-variate analysis of serum protein rheumatoid arthritis.

The content of IgG, IgA, IgM, transferrin, haptoglobin, alpha2 macroglobulin, alpha1 acid glycoprotein, alpha1 antitrypsin, beta1C/1A globulin and beta1E globulin in the sera of 172 female rheumatoid patients and 132 female non-rheumatoid subjects was measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method. Rheumatoid patients were classified into 3 groups according to their stage and class. Canonical discriminant analysis revealed that the alpha1 acid glycoprotein and beta1C/1A globulin was of assistance in differentiating the rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid groups. There is no significant difference in serum protein levels between rheumatoid factor positive and negative groups, whereas IgA and beta1E globulin levels exhibited certain differences between these two groups. Among the results of other clinical tests, the correlation observed between ESR and serum protein levels in rheumatoid arthritis should be mentioned.