The Latex Fixation Titer in Remissions of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary

Eightyfive cases of clinically active, adult and definite rheumatoid arthritis were re-examined after varying intervals for clinical activity and changes in the latex fixation titer. A significant decrease of the titer was observed only in connection with Grade I or Grade II remissions. In the control group, consisting of progressive or largely unimproved cases, the positive titers remained rather stable, i.e. the variation of the titer from time to time only slightly exceeded the methodological error of the test. In relation to changes in the sensitized sheep cell test in connection with remissions (Svartz 1958; de Forest et al. 1956), the latex fixation titer seems to decrease or become negative somewhat faster, and in addition a significant decrease was observed even in 10 out of 14 cases which developed a Grade II remission.