Compared with healthy controls, rheumatoid arthritis patients were found to have higher serum (1 M) perchlorate filtrate (CHLF) levels of alpha-antitrypsin. In addition to orosomucoid, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, haptoglobin, haemopexin and beta2-glycoprotein, the filtrate also contains detectable amounts of albumin, prealbumin and - in patients with high serum glycoprotein levels - also IgA. Serum sulphosalicylate filtrate (SF) contains chiefly orosomucoid, together with alpha1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, haemopexin and beta2-glycoprotein. CHLF contains larger amounts of glycoprotein than SF. The glycoproteins of CHLF correlate with the patient's synovitis, while a high SF glycoprotein content, as estimated by the polarographic activity of the sulphydryl groups, tends to be indicative of visceral complications of RA.

Antigens↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The evaluation of bone changes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Some biochemical and radiological parameters of bone loss associated with rheumatoid arthritis were compared with changes observed in patients suffering from osteoarthrosis. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis increased elimination of hydroxyproline correlated with hypercalciuria and elevated total serum alkaline phosphatase were found. It is suggested that in cases where special methods of assessment of bone changes are not available these biochemical values could serve as satisfactory screening method for detection of bone loss.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Globulinopathy and hyperuricemia].

Investigation of the locomotor system of 20 patients is reported. One patient with arthrosis of the hip joint and concomitant osteonecroses had a myeloma. In 5 RA patients the manifestations of secondary amyloidosis are described. Among the patients with monoclonal gamma globulinemia two had polyarthritis and RA could not be excluded in one of them, one had arthritis of the ankle and foot joints, and one had a vasculitis characteristic of polyarteritis nodosa. Among those with polyclonal immunoglobulinemia one had RA, two had arthrosis of knees and hips, and two had ankylosing spondylitis. Furthermore four patients with alpha2-hyperglobulinemia which is important in evaluation of the alpha2-globulin peak in amyloidosis, are described. Three patients had cryoglobulinemia. In 10 patients hyperuricemia was found repeatedly (by the uricase method). Consequently in these diseases it is necessary to search clinically for crystal induced synovitides and arthropathies. The classification of globulinopathies and the method of their determination is indicated and particular investigations are recommended for such diseases, where the activity of the joint process does not correlate with laboratory findings.

Adolescent↗