IgM rheumatoid factors in Guatemalan onchocerciasis

The possible presence of IgM Rheumatoid factors (RF) and anti-DNA antibodies was investigated in sera of patients with Guatemalan onchocerciasis. The mean value of IgM RF in the patients was found to be significantly higher than that in controls and 10 out of 57 patients had increased levels of IgM RF. In addition, serum IgM levels in those 10 patients with increased levels of IgM RF were significantly elevated. In contrast, no significant increase of serum anti-single-stranded (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies were found in the patients.