SERUM MUCOPROTEINS IN CHILDREN IN HEALTH AND DISEASE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RHEUMATIC FEVER

Serum mucoprotein levels were determined in 125 normal subjects and in 207 patients suffering from a wide variety of diseases. Mucoprotein levels in normal children were found not to differ significantly from those of normal adults and no significant variation with age was found among children. Subnormal levels of mucoproteins were found invariably in the serum of patients with lipoid nephrosis. Marked elevations were found in generalized malignancy, in some cases of acute bacterial and viral infections, in rheumatoid arthritis and in active rheumatic fever in children. Normal or but slightly elevated serum mucoprotein levels were found in children with uncomplicated Sydenham9s chorea, in those with rheumatic fever in the inactive phase, and in nonrheumatic children with uncomplicated acute streptococcal pharyngitis. In rheumatic fever elevations in the level of serum mucoproteins were found to parallel the degrees of activity of the disease process.