Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements relating to ‘rheumatoid factor’ is true?

  1. The finding of rheumatoid factor in a given patient's blood is a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

  2. Rheumatoid factor is a poor prognostic factor when found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

  3. Rheumatoid factor is an IgE molecule.

  4. Rheumatoid factor can form immune complexes with IgE.

  5. Rheumatoid factors are always found transiently in the blood of patients who have recently suffered from an infection.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rheumatoid factor does indicate a poor prognosis when found in RA patients, correlating with extra-articular (non-joint) complications of RA such as nodules, lung disease and vasculitis as well as with severely affected joints.

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