A comparison of the content of iron in normal and rheumatoid striated muscle

An investigation has been carried out on the presence of iron in striated muscle from normal individuals and from patients with rheumatoid disease. The methods used for the estimation of iron required a neutron activation analysis of total iron and extraction of hemoglobin in cyanide buffer. The results disclosed that there was a higher deposition of iron in rheumatoid muscle as compared with normals. Iron has a destructive effect on lysosomes and mast cells, the effect of which is an inflammatory reaction which may in part cause "metabolic myopathy" in rheumatoid disease. It is tentatively suggested that this "metabolic myopathy" may cause muscular pain and weakness in rheumatoid disease.