[Acid-base balance parameters of the synovial fluid in patients with early-stage rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: To study changes in acid-base balance (ABB) of synovial fluid (SF) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in respect of the disease duration, clinical symptoms and treatment.

Material And Methods: The examination of verified RA patients included clinical, x-ray, immunological and special tests. The patients received nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs, 2 weeks later--physiotherapy followed by 10-day basic treatment (tauredon, methotrexate or cyclophosphamide).

[Changes in the acid-base status of the synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

Aim: The study of changes in joint fluid (JF) acid-base balance in RA patients to evaluate severity of joint lesions, efficacy of on-going therapy and to predict appearance and persistence of RA remission.

Materials And Methods: A routine examination and measurements of JF pH of the affected joints and venous blood before and during the treatment were performed in 65 RA patients with articular or articular-visceral forms (46 and 19 patients, respectively). 19 patients were seropositive and 20 seronegative by rheumatoid factor.