To compare levels of antitype II collagen IgG in West African and British patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
IgG levels to native and denatured type II collagen were measured by ELISA:
Serum levels of antinative type II collagen IgG were raised in 17 of 58 (29%) West African patients with RA. In contrast, 14 of 89 (16%) British RA patients had raised levels of antinative type II collagen IgG. Levels of antinative type II collagen IgG were also higher in West African patients with RA than in the British patients.
Our results suggest that type II collagen autoimmunity plays a more prominent role in RA in West Africa than in Britain.