HLA antigens and adult rheumatoid arthritis: a study with a monoclonal antibody.

Adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a very heterogeneous disease that is associated with HLA-antigens, although no absolute association has been found with any particular HLA type. Forty-one seropositive RA patients have been studied with a local monoclonal antibody named X1 21.4 (9w940), strongly associated with HLA-DRI, DR4, Drw10 antigens, to verify a possible correlation with the disease. The results obtained have also been compared with the data reported on MC1, a serologically defined determinant correlated with RA. X1 21.4 monoclonal antibody appears to be associated with the disease and it could identify one epitope involved in the susceptibility to RA.

[Long-term treatment of arthrosis using Arumalon]. / Trattamento a lungo termine dell'artrosi con "Arumalon"

Cartilage and bone marrow extracts have been used to enhance cartilage mucopolysaccharide levels. The value of this form of treatment was appraised in 250 groups of 250 patients with well established arthrosis. Comparison was made between standard management with anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, anti-rheumatic compounds, physiotherapy and heat treatment, and management with the addition of cartilage and bone marrow extracts (Arumalon) over a period of 5 yr. Patients who received Arumalon had a lower frequency of painful exacerbations, a lower and more delayed frequency of functional incapacity, and a slower and less striking radiological progression. These results corroborate experimental and clinical data in the literature. They were particularly marked in 50 cases of gonarthrosis.