Twenty-six patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with sodium aurothiomalate (16 patients) and penicillamine (10 patients) for 9 months. During both treatment periods the content of serum sulfhydryl groups increased and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor titre and number of swollen joints decreased.
The effect of 9 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the renal excretion of uric acid was studied in patients with normal renal function. Diflunisal, Azapropazone and Indomethacin caused an increase and Piroxicam a decrease in the uric acid excretion. Other drugs studied had no significant influence.
Gout has been considered a rare disease in Finland. However, our hospital series of 77 patients from 1952 to 1976 shows a striking increase during the last 8 years. Over those 8 years the number of persons in the whole country receiving prescribed reimbursable medicines for gout and/or hyperuricaemia rose 10-fold, from 218 to 2188. Diuretics were implicated in one-fourth of our patients-all recent cases. Associated morbidity was high in both obese and non-obese patients. The clinical features and dietary habits of the patients are discussed.
A quantitative immunoturbidimetric assay for rheumatoid factors (RF) is described, based on the immunoprecipitation between aggregated human IgG and rheumatoid factors in serum. The resulting turbidity is measured photometrically at 340 nm. The method is standardized against the WHO international reference preparation and the results are expressed in international units per milliliter (int. units/mL). Results correlate well with those by different latex-agglutination techniques (r = 0.80-0.96). The correlation with Waaler-Rose test modifications were 0.75 and 0.92. The within-run and between-run coefficients of variations were respectively from 1.2 to 2.6% and 1.3 to 1.9% for high and low RF concentrations. Quantitative and reproducible results, together with high throughput of samples and compatibility with most clinical chemistry analyzers and photometers, make this new assay well suited for routine screening and monitoring of rheumatoid factors.
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