抄録
Effects of SH-compounds such as DL-penicillamine and L-cysteine on the rheumatoid factor in serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were examined, and the following results were obtained.
1) In vitro dissociation of the rheumatoid factor was obviously ascertained. This finding was supported by the fall of the serum viscosity, changes in globulin fragment in the serum protein patterns, and depolymerization of macro-globulin in the ultracentrifugal patterns.
2) In vivo SH-compounds exert influence neither on patients with rheumatoid arthritis nor on the rabbit in which RFLS had been produced experimentally in the body. When the drug was administered intra-articularly, temporary dissociation of rheumatoid factor in the synovial fluid took place.
