[Functional state of the endocrine glands and the immune system in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]

A total of 35 patients aged from 5 to 12 years old suffering from the articular, visceral or polyarticular form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) were examined. The functional state of the endocrine glands were determined by means of appliances intended for radioimmunological study. To characterize the immune status of patients the conventional methods of investigation were used. The analysis of the material showed that all the patients with JRA had disorders in the system: hypophysis--adrenal cortex, the system: hypophysis-thyroid gland and pancreas suffer to the least degree. Disorders were mostly marked in patients with the articular- visceral form of JRA and those with a protracted course of the disease (two or more years). Relationship between hormonal and immune parameters was revealed.