Course and prognosis in seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

Long since it have been suggested that a subpopulation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diagnosed with negative rheumatoid factor (RF) tests, represents a clinical entity quite distinct from that of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Th e aim of the study was to establish a scientifi c comparative analysis between RA seronegative and seropositive, regarding course and prognoses of the disease. Two hundred fi ft y patients with rheumatoid arthritis according to the (American College of Rheumatology) criteria were retrospectively studied by analysis the course and prognoses of disease. All examinees were between 25-60 years of age (Xb=49.9, SD=10.3) with disease duration between 1-27 years (Xbox=6.41, SD=6.47). Course of the disease with “remissions and exacerbations”, progressive continual course and bad prognoses, were more presented in seropositive group of patients. Partial remission was more common in seronegative patients but according to serostatus and gender has not shown statistically signifi cant diff erence. Duration of the disease was a specifi c prognostic sign for both subsets [(r=0.32, p 0.05) seronegative, (r=0.18, p<0.05) seropositive]. Seropositive and seronegative RA distinguish in course and prognostic feature, but not enough to diff erentiate them in two diff erent forms of the disease. Regarding the sero-status, diff erences within sex, with some exceptions, are not relevant.