Abstract
On an unrestricted diet the 24-hr. urinary creatine excretion of 10 healthy male and female adults, 18 to 33 yrs. of age, averaged 161 mg. The 24 hr. creatine excretion in 10 elderly healthy subjects, 48 to 87 yrs. of age, averaged 185.1 mg. in 24 hrs. In 10 patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, the avg. 24 hr. creatine excretion was 175.9 mg. in 24 hrs. There was no increase in the creatine excretion in spite of the widespread tissue and joint changes characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. In 10 patients with osteo-arthritis the 24 hr. urinary excretion averaged 675.4 mg. It is suggested that in osteoarthritis there exists an abnormal creatine excretion.