THE RESISTANCE TO FIBRINOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF THE HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCUS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC FEVER AND RHEUMATOID (ATROPHIC) ARTHRITIS 1

Abstract

Blood plasma of patients with proved hemolytic streptococcal infection (erysipelas, acute follicular tonsillitis, etc.), tested with cultures of hemolytic streptococci containing fibrinolytic substances by the methods of Tillett and Garner, showed, as compared with normal subjects, a high resistance to fibrinolysis; so did 85% of patients with rheumatic fever. Persons with rheumatoid arthritis, even though it was active at time of examination, did not exhibit resistance to fibrinolysis more often than did normal persons. Hence, it is concluded that, while rheumatic fever was preceded by hemolytic streptococcal infection in a high % of cases, rheumatoid arthritis could be active without showing evidence of recent hemolytic streptococcal infection.