[Clinical importance of changes in antibody immunity in gout]

In 77 patients with gout (16 with acute attacks and 61 during an attack-free period), in 30 healthy subjects, 30 patients with IgM RF serum positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 cases of IgM RF serum negative RA the authors examined serum values of 10 parameters of antibody immunity: IgA, IgG, IgM, IgD, IgE, beta-2 microglobulin (beta-2 MG), immunocomplexes (IK), IgM RF/LFT, IgM/RF/HAT and ANA/IF. Data obtained by quantitative analyses were processed by stepwise discrimination with the consecutive selection of characteristics significant for the differentiation of the investigated groups and by assessment of classification functions which make it possible to classify individuals selected at random. The authors consider the following particularly important from the clinical aspect: acute gouty attack--IgM RF serum positive RA (IK and beta-2 MG), attack-free stage of gout--healthy subjects (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgD, IK, IgE). IgM RF were detected in 5/77 patients with gout, ANA/IF not in a single patient.