The findings agree with the reported prevalence of 10% to 12% in other communities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but lower than the rates in Western countries. The lower rates are probably related to sociocultural factors.

Twenty-six healthy volunteers were given the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug nabumetone (1 g/day p.o.) for 10 days. Platelet aggregation tests in response to adenosine diphosphate, adrenaline, collagen, arachidonic acid, and ristocetin and bleeding time and coagulation screening tests were performed on three occasions: (1) before drug therapy; (2) on the last day of drug therapy, and (3) 5 days after the end of therapy. No significant changes were noted in platelet aggregation, bleeding time, or the coagulation screening tests, except for a significant drop in fibrinogen during therapy and for 1 week after stopping the drug. The lack of any antiplatelet action and minimal effects on the coagulation parameters recommend the drug as a suitable antirheumatic in patients with bleeding disorders. The hypofibrinogenaemic action requires further studies.

B-lymphocytes obtained from patients with either rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease and from normal subjects were reacted with serum obtained from rabbits immunized with streptococcal cell wall antigen. The presence of cytotoxicity was sought using an inverted phase microscope after differential uptake of eosin dye. The serum was found to be significantly more cytotoxic to HLA-DR4 containing cells of both patients and normals compared with DR4 negative cells (P less than 0.0001).

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