[The rheumatoid rosette test in bacterial endocarditis. A non-specific test for inflammation (author's transl)].

The rheumatoid rosette test was performed in 33 patients with febrile valvular cardiopathy. In 19 cases bacterial endocarditis was proved by blood culture or by histological examination. The test was positive in 3 cases out of 5 during the first ten days of the fever (group A1), in 6 cases out of 6 after the tenth day (group A2), and in 4 out of the 8 already treated patients (group A3). In 3 positive cases, successive measurements, before and during treatment, showed a rapid fall in rosette levels. In controls patients, the test was positive 8 out of 9 cases with febrile valvular cardiopathy without endocarditis (group B) and in 5 out of 5 cases in which bacterial endocarditis was probable but not proved (group C). The increase in rheumatoid rosette levels seems therefore to be non specific of bacterial endocarditis. Nevertheless it could be a good test for biological activity of the disease in treated patients. The origin and signification of the rheumatoid rosette forming cells are discussed.