Determination of Rheumatoid Factor by Latex Agglutination Test Among People of Different Age Groups in Pokhara Valley

Abstract

Backgound: Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an antibody directed against the Fc region of immunoglobulin G (IgG), which is found mostly in the patient with an autoimmune condition. It is an important serological marker to detect autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to determine the rheumatoid factor by latex agglutination test among people of different age groups.

Methods: A community-level cross-sectional study was conducted in different areas of Pokhara valley from January 2019 to June 2019. Blood samples collected were processed at the Department of Microbiology, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara. The presence of rheumatoid factor was detected using the latex kit test and then the concentration of RF was determined in RF positive samples.

Result: Out of 125 participants, 7 (5.6%) of them were detected positive with rheumatoid factor. RF concentration was between the range of 0.5 IU/ml to 4.0 IU/ml. More females (6.8%) tested positive for RF than males. Likewise, 56.73% of people with positive tests were elderly people of age above 60.

Conclusion: Rheumatoid factor suggests the risk of having various autoimmune conditions. Females and elderly people are high-risk groups. Therefore, its use in clinical practice may contribute to making wise treatment decisions at the early stage of autoimmune diseases.