Robert Irby

Connective-Tissue Disease and Rheumatoid Factors in Patients with Renal Transplants

AN impressive body of experimental evidence can be summarized by the statement that graft rejection is initiated by an immunologic process.1 Similarly, there is evidence that immunologic events may...

Effect of cortisone in the long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Observation of thirty-five patients over a three-year period

Abstract 1.1. At the end of three years, eleven cases (31.1 per cent) of an original group of thirty-five patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with cortisone have been benefited sufficiently to continue the drug. None of these patients suffered any serious adverse reaction. 2.2. Five deaths occurred in the series, four of which were probably directly or indirectly the result of cortisone. In one instance death occurred twenty months after the drug had been discontinued. 3.3. Adverse or toxic reactions of a nature and severity sufficient to discontinue treatment developed in ten cases. In two of these, however, it was doubtful that the cortisone was entirely responsible. 4.4. Minor adverse or toxic reactions were encountered often and in a variety of forms. Many miscellaneous clinical conditions developed in this group during the course of cortisone treatment and were always a source of considerable apprehension and concern on the part of both the physician and the patient. Many of these had no direct or indirect relationship to the treatment, and it was important to evaluate these situations correctly. 5.5. Cortisone has a definite but limited use in the maintenance management of rheumatoid arthritis. It should not be used routinely but only after other measures have been adequately tried.