Key result
Rheumatoid factor at a titer of ≥1:160 was present in the pleural fluid of 41% of patients with bacterial pneumonia, 20% with carcinoma, and 14% with tuberculosis.
Why the study?
Is the presence of rheumatoid factor in pleural fluid specific to rheumatoid disease?
Observational (n=65)
Is the presence of rheumatoid factor in pleural fluid specific to rheumatoid disease?
The presence of rheumatoid factor in pleural fluid is not specific to rheumatoid disease and can occur in other conditions like bacterial pneumonia, carcinoma, and tuberculosis.
RF in pleural fluid lacks specificity for rheumatoid disease; challenges diagnostic assumptions and leaves open need for prospective validation.
Among 65 consecutive patients with serous nonrheumatoid pleural effusions, the pleural fluid contained rheumatoid factor (RF) or rheumatoid factor-like activity at a titer of ≧ 1:160 in 41% of patients with bacterial pneumonia, 20% of patients with carcinoma, and 14% of patients with tuberculosis. From 6% to 15% of patients with these diseases showed RF in the pleural fluid to titers of 1:1280. The occurrence of this antibody in pleural fluid cannot be considered specifically related to rheumatoid disease.
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Harold Levine (1968) conducted an observational in Serous nonrheumatoid pleural effusions (n=65). Nonrheumatoid diseases (bacterial pneumonia, carcinoma, tuberculosis) was evaluated on Presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) or RF-like activity at a titer of ≧ 1:160 in pleural fluid. Rheumatoid factor at a titer of ≥1:160 was present in the pleural fluid of 41% of patients with bacterial pneumonia, 20% with carcinoma, and 14% with tuberculosis.