A Study of the Interrelations of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

In investigations on the interrelations of rheumatoid arthritis and the various endocrine disturbances, very little attention has been paid to diabetes mellitus. Thus, there exist only short notes on the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis among diabetics (Wolf, 1936), and only the effects of an insulin treatment given to rheumatoid arthritis patients have been subjected to a closer examination (Copeman, 1946). A further reason for analysing the interrelations of rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus was that an increased secretion of the adrenocortical glucocorticoids (as cortisone or Compound E) and of the antehypophyseal hormones (ACTH) is at present regarded as a feature of diabetes mellitus; and these hormones are those upon which the interest in rheumatoid arthritis is now concentrating.MaterialThe study comprises the rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus patients treated at the Third Medical Clinic of the University of Helsinki and in the medical wards of the Kivela Hospital during the 15-year period 1934-1948.Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.-There were 1,008 in this group, of whom 725 were female and 283 male. The average age in the whole group was 48-7 years.Diabetes Mellitus Patients.-There were 766 altogether, of whom 490 were female and 276 male. The average age was 51 -6 years. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes Mellitus occurring in the same PatientIn the present series, 1 -3±0*36 per cent. of the rheumatoid arthritis patients were affected with diabetes mellitus, and 1*7±0*47 per cent. of the diabetes mellitus group suffered from rheumatoid arthritis.In order to know whether the present results show that these two diseases have a tendency either to occur together more often than is due to pure chance, or to avoid each other, the figures should be compared with the corresponding morbidity rates among similar population groups.According to earlier studies (Jarvinen, 1950)