[The effect of aurotherapy on the content of corticotropin, cortisol, aldosterone and insulin in the blood serum of rheumatoid arthritis patients].

The author studied the content of corticotropin, cortisol, aldosterone, insulin in the blood serum of 69 patients with rheumatoid arthritis depending on the grade of activity of the inflammatory process before treatment in the course of aurotherapy within 12 months. It was established that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis changes develop in the system of pituitary-peripheral endocrine glands, namely, an increase of the concentration of corticotropin, aldosterone and a reduction of the level of cortisol and insulin indicating the participation of hormones in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Non-steroid antiinflammatory preparations and quinolinic derivatives did not effect the hormonal spectrum of rheumatoid arthritis. Prolonged aurotherapy resulted in a positive dynamics in the contents of hormones.