Current Status of the Rheumatoid Factor
Authors: JOHN H. VAUGHAN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1962)

Article1 January 1962Current Status of the Rheumatoid FactorJOHN H. VAUGHAN, M.D., F.A.C.P., VINCENT P. BUTLER JR., M.D.JOHN H. VAUGHAN, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this author, VINCENT P. BUTLER JR., M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-56-1-1 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThis review of the rheumatoid factor will present certain established facts about the physicochemical and immunochemical nature of the rheumatoid factor, certain clinical observations that have been made about it, and some notes as to its probable biological meaning.PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOCHEMICAL FEATURESThe rheumatoid factor is a macro-gamma globulin with a molecular weight around 1,000,000 and an ultracentrifugal sedimentation coefficient of 19S (1). Such macro-gamma globulins constitute a class of proteins that contains, in addition to the rheumatoid factor, many interesting types of antibody. Cold agglutinin, Wassermann and heterophil antibodies, blood group antibodies, typhoid "O" agglutinin, and penicillin antibody...References1. FRANKLINHOLMANMULLER-EBERHARDKUNKEL ECHRHJHG: An unusual protein component of high molecular weight in the serum of certain patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J. Exp. Med. 105: 425, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. BUTLERVAUGHAN VPJH: Observations on the behavior of rheumatoid factor with cells coated with gamma globulins by the BDB technique. Arthritis Rheum. 4: 105, 1961. Google Scholar3. SINGERPLOTZ JMCM: The latex fixation test for rheumatoid arthritis using patient's own gamma globulin. Arthritis Rheum. 1: 122, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. WALLERVAUGHAN MVJH: Use of anti-Rh sera for demonstrating agglutination activating factor in rheumatoid arthritis. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 92: 198, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. GRUBBLAURELL RAB: Hereditary serological human serum groups. Acta Path. Microbiol. Scand. 39: 390, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. VAUGHAN JH: Serum responses in rheumatoid arthritis. Amer. J. Med. 26: 596, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. HEREMANS JF: Immunochemical studies on protein pathology. The immunoglobulin concept. Clin. Chim. Acta 4: 639, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. EPSTEINJOHNSONRAGAN WAC: Observations on a precipitin reaction between serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and a preparation (Cohn fraction II) of human gamma globulin. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 91: 235, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. VAUGHANELLISMARSHALL JHPJH: Quantitative considerations of the rheumatoid factor. J. Immunol. 81: 261, 1958. MedlineGoogle Scholar10. VAUGHAN JH: Hypersensitivity and rheumatoid arthritis, in Inflammation and Diseases of Connective Tissue, ed. by Mills, L. C., and Moyer, J. H., W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 1961, p. 118. Google Scholar11. MELLORSHEIMERCORCOSKORNGOLD RCRJL: Cellular origin of the rheumatoid factor. J. Exp. Med. 110: 875, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. HARRISVAUGHAN JJH: Transfusion studies in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 4: 47, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. BLUMBERG BS: Genetics and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 3: 178, 1960. CrossrefGoogle Scholar14. MILGROMWITEBSKY FE: Personal communication. Google Scholar15. SINGERPERALTALYONSPLOTZ JMFMHDCM: Presence of "serologically active macroglobulins" in sera of some patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Arthritis Rheum. 4: 124, 1961. Google Scholar16. MILGROMDUBISKIWOZNICSKO FSSG: Human sera with anti-anti-body. Vox Sang 1: 172, 1956. Google Scholar17. ABRUZZOCHRISTIAN JLCL: Induction of a rheumatoid factor-like substance in rabbits. Arthritis Rheum. 4: 103, 1961. Google Scholar18. VAUGHAN JH: Correspondence. Arthritis Rheum. 3: 568, 1960. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Rochester, New YorkPresented in part at the Forty-second Annual Meeting of The American College of Physicians, Miami Beach, Florida, May 8-12, 1961.Supported by a grant from United States Public Health Service (A-2443) and a grant from the National Foundation (CRMS 154).Requests for reprints should be addressed to John H. Vaughan, M.D., University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Medicine, 260 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester 20, New York. 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BROWN, B.S.The Immune Globulins in Man: Their Relation to Certain of the Collagen DiseasesLATEX FIXATION TEST IN MYELOID LEUKÆMIAThe occurrence of rheumatoid factor in synovial fluidThe rheumatoid factorsSjögren's syndrome and its relation to connective tissue diseasesRheumatoid arthritis–An infection? 1 January 1962Volume 56, Issue 1Page: 1-11KeywordsAgglutininsBlood groupsGeneticsGlobulinsMedical servicesMyelomaPenicillinProteinsSyphilisTyphoid ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 January 1962 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright ©, 1962, by The American College of PhysiciansPDF downloadLoading ...