[Rheumatoid arthritis with systemic manifestations: its diagnosis and clinical aspects].

A total of 104 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with systemic manifestations were investigated on the basis of a joint program in the Institute of Rheumatology, AMS, USSR, and in the Polyclinic Medical Institute (Leipzig), GDR. RA systemic manifestations were described, their diagnostic signs presented. Modern instrumental methods for the detection of RA manifestations before the development of their clinical picture (echocardiography, computed tomography, electrophysiological methods for a study of the peripheral nervous system) were assessed.

[Place of hemocarboperfusion and hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with systemic symptoms].

Altogether 12 patients were treated by the hemocarboperfusion method and 20 patients with systemic symptoms by the hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) method. Positive results were obtained and it made it possible to recommend the above methods for multimodality therapy of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with systemic symptoms. A severe, rapidly progressive course of rheumatoid arthritis with the development of various systemic symptoms, a high titer of the rheumatoid factor should serve as an indication for hemocarboperfusion.

[Activity of short-lived suppressor lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis].

Activity of short-lived suppressor lymphocytes was studied in 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Of these, 14 patients had diverse systemic manifestations: rheumatoid nodules, polyneuropathy. Sjögren's syndrome, and Felty's syndrome.