Class-specific rheumatoid factors, DR antigens, and amyloidosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Class-specific rheumatoid factors (RFs) were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 59 patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by systemic amyloidosis (RA+A), 47 patients with rheumatoid arthritis without amyloid (RA), 106 patients with other rheumatic diseases (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome), and 55 blood donors. The patients with RA+A were characterised by a high prevalence of RF negativity; the IgM RF concentration was raised in only 18 of the 59 patients (31%, p less than 0.001 v RA), the IgG RF concentration in 20 of 59 (34%, p less than 0.

Sjögren's Syndrome Associated with Vitamin B(12) Deficiency.

Three patients showing Sjögren's syndrome in association with macrocytic anemia due to vitamin B(12) deficiency are described. Antibodies to parietal cells, intrinsic factor and salivary protein were investigated; positive test results were obtained in different combinations. Addisonian pernicious anemia as well as vitamin B(12)-malabsorption because of anti-intrinsic factor antibodies in gastric juice and/or malabsorption due to changes in the intestinal wall induced by Sjögren's syndrome are possible etiological factors.

Reversible acute renal failure complicating rheumatoid arthritis.

Although morphological and functional kidney lesions are well known to occur in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there appear to be no previous reports on reversible acute renal failure. That interstitial nephritis plays a part in acute renal failure is clinically documented but the pathophysiology is obscure. The role of raised interstitial pressure has often been discussed but convincing evidence is still lacking.

Clearance of (125)i-labelled urographin from knee joints in rheumatoid arthritis.

(125)I-labelled Urographin has been used intra-articularly as tracer and 60 per cent Urographin as contrast in ten knee joints of patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis. Nine traumatic knees served as controls. The rapid rate of disappearance of the contrast from joints with rheumatoid inflammation was higher than in controls.

Increased collagenase activity in human rheumatoid meniscus.

Collagenase activity of the knee joint menisci of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis was approximately 3-fold higher than that found in menisci of control patients. The mean collagenase activity in the macroscopically more diseased parts of the rheumatoid menisci was significantly higher than that in the less damaged areas. The specific degradation products resulting from the cleavage of human meniscoid type II collagen by rheumatoid meniscoid collagenase were demonstrated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.