Due to the unknown etiology of the ankylosing spondylarthritis up to now a causal therapy is not possible. By complex methods of treatment, consisting of chemo- and physiotherapeutic measures we succeed in controlling the course of the disease in as far that the most severe morphological lesions may be prevented. Decisive is the use of a basis therapeutic, in which case chlorochine has been proved favourable. In the last years by optimum dispensary care of these patients with regular controls of the course and controls of the therapy as well as use of all possible rehabilitation measures the premature rate of invalidisation could be reduced from about 50% to 10%. When the disease is recognized in the prodromal phase there exists established hope of preventing severe morphological lesions.

Chloroquine↗

PubMed1976

[Results of different long term treatments of patients in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis].

In a clinical 5-year-study on 200 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with the help of the dynamics of radiological changes (radiological progressing), the joint deformation, the reduction of function and the new affection of joints (clinical progressing) as well as the medium position of activity the progressing of the disease and a good, satisfying or missing success of the long-term therapy were estimated. From the characteristics of the individual groups of therapy conclusions for the therapy in the early phase of the rheumatoid arthritis were derived.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1976

[Longitudinal study on the locomotor function test in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

With the help of a four-year observation of the course of rheumatoed arthritis in 100 patients the evidence of the locomotor functional test after Keitel is examined for the longitudinal research. The locomotor functional test proved depending on the actual activity and in a high percentage of patients showed considerable variations from year to year which were not parallel to the clinical and radiological progression. It is not sufficiently evident as the only criterion for the establishment of the progression of the disease. The locomotor functional test is well suited for the judgement of the success of therapy in short periods and the objectivation of the actual restriction of the function especially for questionings of experts. It is proposed to include the locomotor functional test into the criteria for the establishment of the degree of function.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1976

[Early diagnosis of spondylarthritis ankylopoietica].

For the early recognition of the ankylopoietic spondylarthritis subjective and objective criteria are explained and the importance of X-ray-morphological, cytological, biochemical, immunogenetic and coagulation-physiological investigations are explained. By accentuation of two types of constellation of the course the possibility of an early diagnosis is given still before the appearance of severe irreparable X-ray-morphological changes in about half the cases of disease. Further observations and controls of courses are necessary for the confirmation of evidence.

Adolescent↗