In a review of organic changes of rheumatic diseases the more important changes of skeletal musculature, gastro-intestinal apparatus, kidneys, blood vessels and eyes are discussed. The paper is based upon investigations, publications and post-graduate activities of the Rheumatism Research Institute of Prague.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cystinosis with crystal-induced synovitis and arthropathy.

A clinically and experimentally verified intermediary form of cystinosis is described. A 30-year old patient has been examined initially for eye complications confined to the frontal segment of the eye on the cornea and conjunctiva. The joint disease received no attention despite the fact that the motor apparatus of the patient was involved from her childhood. As regards the arthrology, the disease can be classed among crystal-induced synovitis and arthropathy. The lesion of the tubular apparatus of the kidney, which cannot transform vitamin D into its active form, represents an important factor in the genesis of osteoporosis. A description of the intermediary from of cystinosis with eye, kidney and joint symptoms was not found in the literature.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of activity and the electron microscope picture in Paget's disease].

Thirteen patients with Paget's disease followed-up for prolonged periods of time were subjected to a series of biological tests and to studies of radionuclides incorporation into skeletal tissues. Bone alkaline phosphatase showed an osteoblastic activity, and tartarate -resistant acid phosphatases an osteoclastic function. Hydroxyproline in urine corresponded to the osteoclastic destruction. The X-ray pattern did not agree necessarily with the local metabolic bone activity of phosphates ( 99mTechnetium pyrophosphate), or of glycoproteins (85Sr). The use of scanning was recommended for studies of local activity and to correlate the results obtained with the clinical and biochemical syndromology . The electronoptic pattern was similar to that observed in inclusions of the paramyxovirus or papova virus. The problems associated with the differential diagnosis were discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Recrystallization and reaction of urates in gout tophus after fixation with glutaraldehyde].

Uric acid and urates usually dissolve in the instance of routine fixation of material with formol. Bioptic confirmation of diagnosis is therefore usually very difficult if a murexide reaction test cannot be carried out concurrently. After fixation in glutaraldehyde for electron optic aims the crystals remain present in microscopic paraffin preparations for a long period of time and undergo even recrystallization which largely facilitates the microscopic diagnosis. It is assumed that a compound of the urates and diglutaraldehyde develops. It has been shown electron-optically that the crystals deposit for the most part in connective tissue or in the basic mass of cartilage without close relation to the cell elements. Underlying tissue is afflicted by necrosis, adjacent tissues show abundant fibroblasts which have however no closer contact with the crystals.

Aged↗