[Demonstration of Australia antigen in a rheumatologic population]

The authors looked for Australia antigen in a population of 578 rheumatic patients, 300 of whom were polyarthritic, by electrosyneresis and complement fixation methods. Australia antigen was found in 26 patients, and anti-Australia antibodies in 33 patients. Most of these patients were suffering from rheumatoid polyarthritis--22 presented hepatic disturbance, and 28 had undergone surgical operations, blood transfusions, and repeated hospitalization. The presence of Australia antigen did not in any case appear to play a role in the development of the lesions, apart from the occurrence of signs of hepatic lesions, but appeared to be an indicator of a form of hospitalization.