CHRONIC ARTHRITIS

Abstract
The present investigation was initiated to establish a better understanding of the serology of chronic arthritis and, more particularly, the arthritis that has been considered infectious. Our interest centered on four major topics: (1) the specificity and sensitivity of the streptococcic agglutination reaction in chronic infectious arthritis, as reported by Cecil, Nicholls and Stainsby1and confirmed by Dawson, Olmstead and Boots;2(2) the relation between agglutinin titer and cutaneous sensitivity; (3) the relation between agglutinin titer and clinical course, and (4) the effect of vaccine treatment on agglutinin titer. Organisms of four types commonly isolated by our laboratory from foci of infection in patients with chronic arthritis were selected for this study. In addition, we chose members of three bacterial groups which are frequently implicated, according to the reports of leading authorities on the disease. SELECTION OF ORGANISMS The following brief résumé of the literature serves to indicate

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