Serum Anti-Tryptase in Chronic Rheumatic Disease

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Abstract
A method is described for estimating the anti-tryptase activity of serum in chronic rheumatic disease. 200 cases of various types of rheumatic diseases, including such diverse diseases as rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis, were included. Anti-trypsin activity is a known function of serum. The anti-tryptase function of the serum in rheumatic cases was increased. There was variation in the various rheumatic diseases. Rheumatoid spondylitis gave strong "arthritic figures," while gout usually produced negative or normal figures. Also, extremely high figures were obtained from cases of rheumatic bursae or joints. As the anti-tryptase function of the serum bears a quantitative relationship to the severity of the arthritic process, the association of this function with the physiological expts. of Ungar forms a basis to bring the question of splenic activity with that of the adrenal cortex, the pituitary, and vitamin C into closer relationship with the chronic rheumatic disorders. These have thus an association, also as organic physiol. reaction to emotional stimuli suggested by the work of Selye (1946) and Biggs.