Abstract
Effects on rheumatoid arthritis of three pteridines contained in fluorescent bacteria, i.e., 6-hydroxyethyl-2. 4. 7-trioxo-8-D-ribityl-pteridine, 8-D-ribityl-trioxopteridine, and 8-D-ribityl-6-methyl-2. 4. 7-trioxopteridine, and of luciopterin (8-methyl-2. 4. 7-trioxo-pteridine) taken from firefly were studied in 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. All the pteridines were found to exert a favorable effect upon the ailment. The first pteridine was the most effective, followed by the second and the third in decreasing order of effectiveness.
