The Epidemiology and Serology of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Striking progress has been made in the definition of the problem of rheumatoid arthritis by the recent application of epidemiological ^1-3 and serological⁴ techniques which, not very long ago, would have been considered inappropriate for this field. This report will present control and case data which were obtained by the application of two of the newer serological methods,^5,6 as well as preliminary analysis of a survey of the prevalence of certain signs and symptoms of arthritis in Syracuse, N. Y. The relation of some of the prevalence to serological data also will be discussed. Materials and Methods A. Latex Fixation Test. —The test described by Singer and Plotz⁵ as modified by them to use glycine-buffered saline at pH 8.2 as the diluent and with the exception noted below was employed throughout.