[Serum concentration of bile acids as an index of liver lesions in rheumatoid arthritis]. / La concentrazione degli acidi biliari sierici come indice di danno epatico nell'artrite reumatoide.

Many Authors reported an impairment of liver function tests in Rheumatoid Arthritis (R.A.) No study can be found on Serum Bile Acids (S.B.A.), which are a specific index of liver dysfunction. In a series of 20 patients, affected by R.A. and without other causes of hepatic damage, we found S.B.A. elevated in 80% (mean value 14,1 muM/l versus 2,6 muM/l in controls), bromosulphalein retenction (BSP) elevated in 60% and glutamyltranspeptidase (GT) in 55%. These results confirm BSP and GT frequent impairment, as found by others, and give evidence to S.B.A. reliability in evaluating liver function in R.A.

[Gastrointestinal changes in mixed connective tissue disease. Apropos of a clinical case]. / Alterazioni gastrointestinali in cordo di malattia mista del tessuto connetivo. A proposito di un caso clinico.

A case of mixed connective tissue disease is described. It began as chronic juvenile arthritis and progressed to acquire the typical features of SLE, PSS and PM. Dyspepsia and the patient's poor general condition, by focussing attention on the digestion and absorption functions, revealed the presence of the gastrointestinal alterations that often accompany SSP.

[Celiac disease: association with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus. Apropos of a clinical case]. / Morbo celiaco: associazione con artrite reumatoide e diabete mellito. A proposito di un caso clinico.

A case of coeliac disease accompanied by serum-negative rheumatoid arthritis and (subsequently) by diabetes mellitus is described. The appearance of a similar clinical and sympatomatological enteric and articular picture in one of the patient's brothers is seen as evidence that the link between the components of the three-fold syndrome is to be found in common genetic factors, with an onset in the form of a cellular and biohumoral immunological disorder.