Steady-state serum salicylate levels in hospitalized patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Comparison of two dosage schedules of choline magnesium trisalicylate.

When the total daily drug dose was individualized to produce a steady-state serum salicylate concentration between 20 and 35 mg/dl, clinically acceptable fluctuations of serum concentrations occurred during both twice daily and three times daily administration. In 6 rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving choline magnesium trisalicylate, mean steady-state serum levels were the same, and the ranges of hourly mean concentrations during 8 and 12 hour dosage intervals were 19 to 27 mg/dl and 17 to 30 mg/dl, respectively. Changing the dosing interval from 8 to 12 hours required a 50% increase in the fractional doses, but resulted in an increase of only 3 mg/dl in mean peak concentration and a ddecrease of 1 mg/dl in mean minimum concentration.

Association of HLA antigen a9 with progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

Upon evaluation of 40 subjects with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), a significant association of HLA antigens A9 and Aw24 (a subgroup of A9) was found with diffuse scleroderma. HLA-Aw23 (a second subgroup of A9) was also increased in the patients, however, this was not statistically significant. Diffuse scleroderma appears to be one of the few diseases that shows an association with the HLA-A locus.

Muscle disease in progressive systemic sclerosis: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Upon careful examination, 23 of 24 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) were found to have abnormalities of muscle. Nineteen patients presented a homogenous pattern of muscle abnormalities, which untreated was associated with a stable course ("simple myopathy"). Three patients demonstrated inflammatory muscle disease indistinguishable from polymyositis while a fourth patient developed marked weakness associated with a generalized neuropathic process.

Analysis for 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea by chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

We used chemical ionization mass spectrometry to quantify the cancer chemotherapeutic agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea in biological fluids. A stable isotope-labeled internal standard was added to the fluid being analyzed. Protonated molecular ion intensity ratios were determined by selected ion monitoring of sample extracts inserted directly into the chemical ionization source.

A double-blind trial of high versus conventional dosages of gold salts for rheumatoid arthritis.

In a double-blind study, patients were randomly selected for treatment using conventional doses (CD; 50 mg) or high doses (HD; 150 mg) of sodium aurothiomalate given weekly by injection. Twenty-three patients were assigned to the CD group and 24 to the HD group. Neither efficacy nor toxicity correlated with serum gold concentrations.

Salicylate metabolism in twins. Evidence suggesting a genetic influence and induction of salicylurate formation.

To evaluate the contribution of genetic influences on the individual variation in plateau serum salicylate levels, salicylate metabolism was studied in seven pairs of identical and six pairs of fraternal twins.Under the conditions of this study, after a single i.v.

Oral radiographic changes in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

Intraoral and panoramic radiographs were made of 35 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. Of those patients, 13 (37%) were found to have abnormally thickened periodontal ligament spaces. Six of the 35 demonstrated mild to significant resorption of the posterior mandibular angle.

Lack of effect of rheumatoid arthritis on clonixin metabolism.

The effect of rheumatoid arthritis on the metabolism of the analgesic, 2-(3-chloro-o-toluidino) nicotinic acid (clonixin), was evaluated in 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in 12 matched healthy control subjects. Males, age-matched by decades, had no renal, gastrointestinal, or hepatic disease, and took no drugs during the study. Lower (p less than 0.