The significance of antinuclear factors in rheumatoid arthritis

Sixty‐eight patients with definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis were studied to determine the significance of the presence of antinuclear factors. The patients with positive antinuclear factor determinations were those with more severe disease. These patients almost always had subcutaneous nodules, which were not always associated with a high latex titer for rheumatoid factor. Necrotizing vasculitis occurred in both antinuclear factor positive and negative patients. Our data do not support the notion that a positive antinuclear factor test or a positive L.E. cell test should be used to exclude the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.