Synthesis rates of fibrinogen and albumin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

In four patients with rheumatoid arthritis synthesis rates of fibrinogen and albumin were studied with and 14C carbonate method described by Mc Farlane and Reeve. One of the patients was studied twice with and without steroid treatment. The following results were obtained: 1. There was no correlation between plasma fibrinogen levels and fibrinogen synthesis rates. Contrary to the results from turnover studies of labelled fibrinogen reported in the literature normal fibrinogen synthesis rates were found in the presence of elevated plasma fibrinogen levels in three of the five studies performed, corresponding to low fractional synthesis rates. Two patients showed elevated fibrinogen synthesis rates. In these patients the fractional synthesis rate was also well above normal. 2. Albumin synthesis rates were elvated in one patients treated with steroids and in one patient with very active arthritis. In the rest of the studies albumin synthesis was low. There was no correlation with fibrinogen synthesis rates.