impact factor, citescore
logo
In press
In Press
Recent issue
Recent issue
Recent Supplement
Recent supplement
archives
Archives
articles free
Free to view
Search
Search
 

Brief Paper

 

Lack of cross-reactivity between rheumatoid factor IgM and anti-S1 receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 IgM: a case-control study

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

 

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  4. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  5. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  6. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  7. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  8. Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Malattie Infettive, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  9. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  10. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  11. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. valeria.riccieri@uniroma1.it

CER15305
2022 Vol.40, N°7
PI 1417, PF 1419
Brief Paper

Free to view
(click on article PDF icon to read the article)

PMID: 35579083 [PubMed]

Received: 03/11/2021
Accepted : 24/02/2022
In Press: 29/04/2022
Published: 04/07/2022

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, concern has been raised about reliability of SARS-CoV-2 serological tests in people with serum positivity for rheumatoid factor (RF), due to its ability to interfere during tests carried out with immunoassay techniques, leading to false positive results. The aim of this study was to analyse, on sera from RF seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, the interference between RF IgM and anti-S1 RBD IgM.
METHODS:
The study was conducted on consecutive patients affected by RF seropositive RA and, as control group, COVID-19 patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia hospitalised at Sapienza University of Rome from April 2020 and April 2021. Serum samples from COVID-19 patients during their hospitalisation were collected, while RA subjects’ samples were harvested prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. All samples were tested for RF IgM using nephelometry and ELIA, and for anti-S1 RBD IgM by ELISA.
RESULTS:
Forty RF seropositive RA and 42 COVID-19 patients were enrolled. In all RA patients, both nephelometric assay and ELIA showed RF IgM positivity, while only one patient of the control group tested positive for RF IgM by nephelometric assay and ELIA. IgM directed to S1 RBD were not detected in sera of RA patients, while all COVID-19 patients presented anti-S1 RBD IgM (median anti-S1 RBD IgM COVID-19 vs. RA: 368.5 IU/mL, IQR 654 IU/mL vs. 18.45 IU/mL, IQR 20 IU/mL; p<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS:
This study confirmed the lack of cross-reactivity between RF and anti-S1 RBD IgM, offering to clinicians a valuable tool for a better management of RA patients undergoing SARSCoV-2 serological tests.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/irb45o

Rheumatology Article