On the Preeminent Role of Vitamin a Metabolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Peripheral and Spinal, and in Psoriasis Vulgaris.

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Abstract
Summary Pretreatment determination of vitamin A blood levels in the internal (rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral and spinal) and in the cutaneous manifestations (psoriasis vulgaris) of the permanent endoparasitism, revealed the existence of a high incidence of hypovitaminosis A. In a total of 58 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral and spinal, it was found that 52, i.e., 89.6 per cent, had an initial vitamin A blood level between 10—40 I.U. Among 244 cases of psoriasis vulgaris, 188, i.e., 77.1 per cent, have similarly shown an initial vitamin A blood level between 10—40 I.U. Lack of response of the vitamin A blood level determined every four to six weeks, while the patient is under specific therapy with the vaccine of B. endoparasiticus, along with the simultaneous administration of vitamin A intragluteally, is an index of a poor prognosis early in the disease, both in the cutaneous and internal manifestations of the permanent endoparasitism. The vitamin A determination was carried out according to the colorimetric method of Carr-Price. Since the vitamin A administration is considered only as a necessary supportive measure for the effectiveness of the specific antigen, (vaccine of B. endoparasiticus) vitamin A administration alone has no therapeutic value.