The lack of effective therapy of ankylosing spondylitis is a reason to search a better kind of treatment. Trials to use D-penicillamine are scarce and usually limited to a short time of observation. We studied 49 patients with ankylosing spondylitis non-responding to classical therapy. Before and during treatment periodically complex clinical and laboratory tests were performed. During 9 months of therapy a significant decrease of score and involvement of vertebral column movement measured by several tests were observed. No side effects of treatment were found during this period. It is probably partly connected with the dosage of D-penicillamine which was used. It should be underlined that during 9 months of therapy, no relapse was observed in any case. The efficacy of D-penicillamine therapy was found not only in the peripheral form of ankylosing spondylitis but also in central one. However, the therapy was more effective in the former. It seems that D-penicillamine may be an effective and safe drug in the therapy of ankylosing spondylitis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum level of parathyroid hormone in certain rheumatic diseases.

The mechanism of joint destruction in rheumatic diseases is a complex and not fully known phenomenon in which many factors probably take part. The hormones which regulate the bone metabolism may be engaged in this process. In this study the serum level of the parathyroid hormone was correlated with the degree of joint destruction observed in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis. Besides the degree of joint changes (radiologic aspects) the extension of the pathological process and duration of disease were also considered and the serum and urine level of calcium and phosphorus was analyzed. Similar patterns of the parameter investigated were observed in the rheumatic diseases studied and in healthy persons.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Humoral and cellular immunity in progressive systemic sclerosis.

There is ever increasing evidence that immune disturbances can play an essential role in the pathogenesis of progressive systemic sclerosis. However, there are still a great many controversial opinions and complex studies in this domain are few. Tests of lymphocyte blastic transformation and of leukocyte migration inhibition as well as E and EAC rosette tests were performed and the serum level of A, G and M immunoglobulins and complement were estimated in 13 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. The increase of serum IgA, IgG and IgM and the decrease of early and delayed E rosette formation was observed in the patients as compared with the control group. The patients also presented increase spontaneous and PHA induced lymphocyte blastic transformation. The results support the hypothesis of the role played by immune disturbances in the pathogenesis of progressive systemic sclerosis.

Adult↗