Sodium Gentisate in the Treatment of Acute Rheumatic Fever

Abstract

Five patients with acute rheumatic fever were treated with gentisate, the biologic oxidation product of salicylate. The clinical course of this group was contrasted with that of five patients who received salicylate. It was found that, in the doses employed, gentisate had an effect on the symptoms of acute rheumatic fever equal to that of salicylate, but that it produced none of the toxic reactions which were commonly found after salicylate administration. An oral dose of 2.0 Gm. of gentisate, every three hours, continued for at least ten days after the temperature became normal, was sufficient to control the symptoms of the disease.