Veikko Laine

Finger deformities caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

In this study, we have tried to clarify the role of rheumatoid lesions of the tendons and adjacent soft tissues in the development of finger deformities. Other factors, such as loss of cartilage and bone substance, rheumatoid pannus formation, growth (in children), shrinkage as a result of scarring,

Ulceration of the skin in rheumatoid arthritis.

SummaryAmong about 2,000 cases of rheumatoid arthritis twelve cases were found in which single or multiple ulcerations of the skin were present. These ulcerations were mostly located in the lower part of the leg. The development had been preceded by an oedema. Varicose veins were present in only one case. The ulcers were torpid and histologically there are signs giving cause to suppose that the origin of these features is a cutaneous rheumatic nodule in connection with grave inflammatory changes in the blood vessels.

Occurrence of Amyloid in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Some Observations

SummaryAt 289 biopsies made on patients with rheumatoid arthritis the presence of amyloid could be demonstrated in 83 cases (28.7 per cent).In 55 cases (19 per cent) the findings were less distinctly positive.There seem to be variations in the occurrence of amyloid in different tissues.

Liver function tests in rheumatoid arthritis.

SummaryTo illustrate the possible appearance of liver function disturbances in connection with rheumatoid arthritis, we have made nine different liver function tests simultaneously on 116 patients suffering from this disease.From the results it appears that in protein metabolism tests more than 55.4 per cent of the cases gave abnormal albumin/globulin ratios and Takata and CdSO4 readings. This was more common in severe cases of the disease.In 41 per cent of the cases the galactose tolerance test gave pathological readings.The total serum cholesterol appeared to be on the same level as in normal material.The bilirubin concentration appeared to be normal. In more severe cases of the disease these values seemed to be lower than in milder forms.The detoxication capacity determined by Quicks hippuric acid synthesis test had decreased in a quarter of the cases examined. Values below normal appeared more frequently in severe cases of the disease.The dye excreting capacity, determined by the bromsulfalein tolera...

Protease3.75 Activity in Rheumatoid Tissues

Protease activity was estimated polarographically at pH 3.75 from specimens of serum, synovial fluid, synovial tissue and cartilage. Marked protease activity was found in rheumatoid synovial fluid and synovial tissue. In cartilage, however, the activity was low. Protease activity values in rheumatoid sera did not differ significantly from those of the controls. In osteoarthritic joint fluid protease activity was also low, and in traumatic synovium extremely low. No correlation was found between protease activity and several parameters of rheumatoid inflammation.

Liver Function Tests on Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Showing Complication Associated with Gold Therapy

SummaryIn 50 cases of complications, mainly referring to the skin, and associated with gold therapy in rheumatoid arthritis, the bromsulfalein test, serum bilirubin determination, and the thymol reaction were performed. The Takata reaction was carried out in some of the cases.It could not be observed that there was a more significant tendency towards damages of liver function during the skin complications than appears from the investigation previously published by this clinic, dealing with rheumatoid arthritis patients who have been given gold therapy.