Annual Reports of Misasa Medical Center, Okayama University volume26
1959-10 発行
III. The Effects of Balneotherapy and Antianemics on Anemia in Rheumatoid Arthritis 1. Balneotherapy: The author investigated the changes of the peripheral blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, numbers of finger-ring (Wheatsheaf's ring-test) and grasping power (by means of hand-dynamometer or sphygmometer) before and after baneotherapy. The regimen of spa treatment in our hospital includes bathing in radioactive hot spring (42-3°C. in temperature)two or three times a day, local mud bath or mud pack (once or twice a day, massage and drinking of spring water. These measures performed for one or two months. When the spa treatment has finished the erythrocyte count and Hb-content of
rheumatoid patients increased in 61% of 33 cases examined comparing with before treatment, leucocyte count tended to shift to normal and E.S.R. decreased in 58% of the cases. The swelling of the finger joints diminished. 2. Oral iron therapy: In previous report, the author verified that there exist simple iron deficiency anemia in some cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Oral iron therapy responded well in such cases, but the majority of cases were resistant to oral iron. 3. Transfusion of blood in rheumatoid anemia: The author transfused 100 ml. of blood once a day for 5-10 days in 11 rheumatoid anemic patients. By the treatment of transfusion, the findings in peripheral blood improved and E.S.R. decreased.