Preceding tonsillectomy and appendicectomy in rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis.

One hundred and sixty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 87 patients with degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis, OA) were questioned regarding appendicectomy and tonsillectomy surgery. Thirty point four % of patients with RA and 33.3% of those with OA had had a tonsillectomy preceding the onset of their arthritis. Preceding appendicectomy had been performed in 18.5% of RA and 32.2% of OA patients. These results do not support the hypothesis either of inherent or acquired susceptibility to infection in patients with RA.