Abstract
The serum pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) concentration was measured in 60 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by radioimmunoassay. The serum PSTI concentration was significantly higher in patients with RA than that in controls, and it was correlated with ESR, IgG, joint count (%) and Lansbury index. The correlation coefficient between PSTI and joint count was higher than that between ESR and joint count, and that between CRP and joint count. It is concluded that serum PSTI concentration expresses the activity of the inflammation in RA and that serum PSTI could show the area of involved joints.
