Rheumatoid factor in the elderly. New methodology

Many authors have shown a progressive incidence of auto-antibodies in the elderly as age increases. Among the auto-antibodies found, the highest incidence concerns the Rheumatoid Factor (RF). Using an original enzyme-immunoassay of RF (RF-EIA), we were surprised to find a low incidence of RF in a sample of 100 healthy persons aged from 65 to 98 years (8%). Moreover, the finding of other auto-antibodies confirms this frequency inferior to other workers results. On the other hand, the level of present auto-antibodies is generally low, far below those usually found in auto-immune diseases. These results confirm a disturbance of the immune system in the elderly, but the levels observed make this disturbance more an humoral stigma of aging than a proof of a subjacent dysimmune disease.