Journal of

Background and Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, chronic and inflammatory disease. It is characterized by the symmetric synovitis  of the articules of the extremities. Its major cause is unknown.
Immunological factors including Rheumatoid factor (RF) are considered as more confirming Cause. To date Rheumatoid factor is consisted of many antibodies which are produced against the constant region of IgG. Its causes are not known. This factor is not detected in the healthy people. In the patients with positive rheumatoid factor the probability of a disease would increase seriously. The goal of this study is evaluation of VDRL test in rheumatoid arthritis.

Materials and Methods : Serum Samples were obtained from 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis from loghman hospital. We selected 70 serum samples from the blood donating healthy people.
The serum samples were kept in the Capped vials in - 20ºc freezer. Within two week, VDRL serologic tests were done on serum samples.

Results : The patients were 49 females and 21 males. In the female group 79.6% had negative response and 20.4% had positive response.
In the male patients 66.7% had negative response and 33.3% had positive response. Positive tests were much more in males. In healthy people only 4 ones has positive VDRL test.(5.7%), versus 17 positive VDRL test in patient group (25.3%). In the normal group, 94.3% had negative test versus 75.7% in the patient group.

Discussion : The difference between two groups was statistically Significant (p<0.01). The result of this study shows that VDRL test would be helpful in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.