PMC:3845430 / 975-2044 JSONTXT

{"project":"2_test","denotations":[{"id":"24324289-15103252-25763372","span":{"begin":296,"end":297},"obj":"15103252"},{"id":"24324289-18863659-25763373","span":{"begin":707,"end":708},"obj":"18863659"}],"text":"1. Introduction\nRheumatoid factors (RFs), a class of immunoglobulins (Igs) that have different isotypes and affinities, were first detected more than 70 years ago, but there is still much to discover about the mechanisms underlying their production, physiological role, and pathological effects [1].\nWaaler described an antibody directed against serum gamma-globulins that promoted the agglutination of sheep red blood cells sensitised by subagglutinating doses of rabbit antibodies in 1940 [2], although it had actually been previously found in patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic bronchitis by Kurt Meyer in 1922. In 1948, Rose described these antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [3], and in 1952 they were finally christened RFs because of their association with RA [4].\nHowever, although they owe their name to their first detection in RA patients, RFs are found in patients with other autoimmune and nonautoimmune diseases, as well as-in healthy subjects. \nThe aim of this review is to describe the clinical applications of testing for RFs."}