Does Rheumatoid Factor have any Protective Role in Patients with Lupus Nephritis

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease that appearsto result from an immune-regulatory disturbance caused by an interplay of genetic, hormonal,immunological, and environmental factors.Objectives: To test the hypothesis that rheumatoid factor (RF) protects against lupus nephritisin Iraqi patients with SLE.Materials and methods: Fifty-eight consecutive patients with SLE, who fulfilled the AmericanCollege of Rheumatology (ACR) revised criteria for the diagnosis of SLE and attend the rheumatology unit of Baghdad Teaching Hospital during the period June 2000 to June 2001 were enrolledin the study. SLE patients divided into 2 groups (with lupus nephritis=30, without lupus nephritis=28) and a third group of control patients =30.Results: All SLE patients with and without lupus nephritis had positive antinuclear antibodies.There were no obvious differences in the positivity rate of RF in SLE patients both with andwithout lupus nephritis (P-Value > 0.05). The disease activity was slightly higher in those withRF positives compared to those with RF negatives. The disease activity score was significantlyhigher in those with lupus nephritis compared to those with no lupus nephritis (p=0.007) .Conclusion: RF appears to play no significant role in the protection of renal disease in Iraqipatients with SLE. The presence of RF in SLE patients is associated with a lower disease activityscore. The presence of lupus nephritis is associated with a higher disease activity score.