THE RELATIVE EFFECTS OF AGE AND CORTICOSTEROID THERAPY ON THE COLLAGEN PROFILES OF DERMIS FROM SUBJECTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract
Total collagen, neutral-salt-soluble collagen and susceptibility to Clostridium histolyticum collagenase have been determined for skin samples obtained from groups of normal subjects and of patients receiving prednisolone treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Significant differences were observed between the levels of total and soluble collagen in skins from normal and prednisolone treated subjects at all ages. The total collagen levels fall with age, whereas the percentage of collagen which was soluble increased with age. Samples removed one year apart showed that the amount of collagen lost during this period of prednisolone treatment was proportional to the age of the patient rather than to the dosage.

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