[The diagnostic value of IgG galactosylation in rheumatoid arthritis]

Glycosylation is the main posttranslational modification of protein molecules. Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) is unique among serum glycoproteins because it is associated with at least 30 different biantennary oligosaccharide moieties. Elevated ratio of circulating IgG molecules lacking galactose from the oligosaccharides on the CH2 domain correlates with severity of the disease in a number of different autoimmune illnesses. Moreover, it may be helpful in differential diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). By that we may try to predict outcome of RA. Its seems that agalactosyl IgG is distinctively connected with rheumatoid arthritis and may be involved in its immunopathogenesis.