Hyperglobulinaemia in rheumatoid arthritis; its relationship with disease activity and its changes under adrenocortical treatment

GAMMA GLOBULIN METABOLISM IN RABBITS DURING THE ANAMNESTIC RESPONSE

1. Gamma globulin metabolism and distribution were studied employing rabbit gamma globulin (RGG)I¹³¹ 24 times in 13 control rabbits. Similar studies were performed before and during the ananmestic response in 4 rabbits previously sensitized with a polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine. 2. During the ananmestic response, gamma-globulin levels increased from 1.0 to 6.0 gm/100 ml, and the gamma-globulin pool increased from 0.7 to 4.7 gm/kg. There was no change in the intravascular-extravascular partition of gamma globulin. 3. Gamma globulin degradation increased from 0.06 to 0.33 gm/kg/day during the 28 days of the immunization period while gamma globulin synthesis increased even further to average 0.47 gm/kg/day. Following the attainment of elevated gamma globulin levels the fractional rate of RGG-I¹³¹ turnover increased from 8.0 to 12.5 per cent/day. 4. No differences were noted in the metabolism of homologous or autologous gamma globulin regardless of the allotypic specificities.

Levels of serum immunoglobulins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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Occurrence of antibody to salivary duct epithelium in Sjogren's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other arthritides. A clinical and laboratory study

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