Understanding Rheumatoid Disease in the Context of age and gender

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which rheumatoid factor (RF) remains one of the most commonly used serological markers for diagnosis and clinical assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of RF results according to age and gender among individuals attending Al-Burj Medical Laboratory, Al-Bayda, Libya. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 106 serum samples collected during a six-month period in 2023. RF levels were measured using the Roche Cobas Integra 400 Plus analyzer and the RF-II immunoturbidimetric assay. Of the analyzed samples, 84 (79%) were from females and 22 (21%) from males. Elevated RF values were more frequently observed in females older than 40 years and males older than 60 years. According to the laboratory reference range, 91 samples (86%) showed normal RF values, whereas 15 samples (14%) exhibited abnormal levels. These findings demonstrate a predominance of RF positivity among females and older age groups, consistent with the known epidemiological pattern of RA. Further studies involving larger populations and additional biomarkers such as anti-CCP antibodies are recommended.