[HLA DR7 as a protective factor against gold salt toxicity in rheumatoid arthritis]. / HLA DR7 como factor de protección frente a la toxicidad por sales de oro en la artritis reumatoide.

We performed a study of antigens HLA type I and II (specificity DR) in 90 patients with diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) treated with Sodium Aurothiomalate (SATM) in order to detect the presence of an antigen HLA which could act as a protective factor against toxicity by SATM. Our results demonstrated a decrease in the frequency of the antigen DR7 in patients with toxicity by SATM, which suggests a protective factor of this antigen against the development of toxic reactions due to gold salts.

[The study of zinc in osteonecrosis]. / Estudio del zinc en la osteonecrosis.

Plasmatic, urinary and intra-erythrocytic zinc levels did not modify in patients with head of femur aseptic osteonecrosis (HFAO), except for those patients with raised alkaline phosphatase who showed a diminution in zinc plasmatic levels, being found a negative correlation between plasmatic zinc levels and a raise in serum alkaline phosphatase. A raise on the latter would mean a raise on the osteoblastic activity in a repair intent from the bone of the small trabecular fractures and/or of the necrotic zone which is produced in HFAO. These results show the relationship of zinc with the increase on bone metabolic activity in patients with HFAO, but the scarce previous references force to study them in depth.

[Zinc and osteoporosis]. / Zinc y osteoporosis.

The relevant role of zinc in osteoporosis, its correlation with nutrient intake and the modifications of its urinary and serum levels, have been demonstrated. In this paper, we have studied the plasmatic, urinary and intraerythrocitary levels of zinc in a group of patients with extended primary osteoporosis, most of them women with postmenopausic osteoporosis. No significant differences were observed in zinc levels between osteoporotic patients and controls. We think that certain aspects regarding the correlation between zinc and bone mineral content still have to be defined, as well as zinc intake and osteoporosis.

[Zinc in arthrosis and microcrystalline arthritis]. / Estudio del zinc en la artrosis y en las artritis microcristalinas.

Plasma, urine, intra-erythrocytes and salivary zinc levels are not modified in Generalized Primary Arthrosis. In patients with microcrystalline arthritis (Gout and Joint Chondrocalcinosis), zinc levels do not vary in the absence of disease activity. In patients suffering gout with clinical activity, the lowest plasma zinc levels are observed. Zinc concentrations in patients presenting Chondrocalcinosis, since they belong to groups C and D ("pseudoarthrosis"), were not modified, similarly to the group of patients with arthrosis. The mechanisms of action of zinc in relation to the pathogenesis of the microcrystals induced inflammation are analyzed.

[Lymphocyte subpopulations in rheumatoid arthritis patients, their relatives and spouses]. / Subpoblaciones linfocitarias en pacientes con artritis reumatoide, sus familiares y cónyuges.

A study of lymphocytic sub-populations of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, their families and partners, is presented. The determination was carried out by means of monoclonal antibodies, analysing: T cells sub-population (CD3, CD4, CD8 and quotient CD4/CD8); B cells sub-population (B1); activated cells (OK1a); monocytes and NK cells (OKM1 and BMA 070). The results showed an increase of CD3 sub-population (T total lymphocytes) in patients with RA and their families. The meaning of these results is difficult to evaluate as lymphocyte sub-population is affected by several variables. The lack of modification of suppressor population, CD4/CD8 quotient and IKM1 cells in RA patients is probably due to the moderate activity of the disease.

[HLA antigens in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, their relatives, and spouses]. / Estudio de los antígenos HLA en pacientes con artritis reumatoide, sus familiares y cónyuges.

The results of the comparison between phenotypic frequency of HLA antigen classes I and II in patients afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their relatives (study carried out in the east of Andalusian), showed a significant increase of HLA A24, B51, B44, CW1 ans CW5 class I antigen in the group of relatives. We found a statistically significant DR4 antigen class II increase in both, patients and relative groups. The marriage parther of patients with RA did not have variations in class I or II HLA antigens compared to the control group. We concluded that RA is probably related to the following antigens: A24, B51, B44, CW1, CW5 and DR4.

[Plasma and intraerythrocytic zinc in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis]. / Cinc plasmático e intraeritrocitario en la artritis reumatoide y espondilitis anquilosante.

The levels of plasmatic and intraerythrocyte zinc in our control group did not show differences in accordance with age or sex. Patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis showed a decrease of plasmatic levels of zinc and an increase of intraerythrocyte zinc level. The patients with ankylosing spondylitis did not show significant variations of zinc levels, even though the patient with increased SR after the first hour (25 mm) showed lower plasmatic zinc with statistical significance. Finally, patients with rheumatoid arthritis in treatment with NSAID, low dose of steroids, gold salts, D-penicilamin, did not show differences compared to the total group of patients with this disease.