The Relationship of Rheumatoid Factor with Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate if the presence of rheumatoid factor is associated with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Material and Methods This is a cross-sectional study study that analyzes 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Physical examination of the joints and the laboratory tests are requested for the patients such as rheumatoid factor and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Rheumatoid arthritis activity was assessed according to Disease Activity Score 28. Results Patients with positive rheumatoid factor were 54 (77.1 %) and 16 (22.9 %) patients were seronegative. Patients with high disease activity scorer were 41 (58.6 %), moderate disease activity were 16 (22.8 %) patients and low disease activity were 13 (18.6 %) patients. Conclusions Rheumatoid factor is important factor in disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and may help physician to diagnose and evaluate prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients.