[A contribution to the pseudo-LE-syndrome. Investigations of the cardiovascular system, abdominal organs, lymphatic system and drug histories (author's transl)]

13 of 30 patients suffering from pseudo-LE-syndrome showed a usually reversible enlargement of the heart during the acute stage of the disease. In two patients carditis occurring in pseudo-LE-syndrome lead to congestive heart failure and an additional patient died in the acute stage of carditis. As opposed to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus hypertension did not occur in a higher frequency than normal. In five cases cardiac catheter examinations showed slight elevation of the end-diastolic pressure in the right ventricle, in two cases an abnormal high mean pressure in the right atrium and a systolic gradient at the pulmonic valve was found. -Scintigrams showed definite enlargement of the spleen and to a lesser degree enlargement of the liver was seen. Laparascopy showed multiple concretions after peritonitis. Lymphographic changes in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and lymphatic ducts were not observed in contrast to rheumatic diseases. Drug histories in most cases discovered intake of Venopyronum dragees prior to onset of the disease. But recurrent attacks of the disease also occurred without further intake of the drug.

[On the question of drug-induced pseudo-LE syndrome: preliminary results in 58 cases (author's transl)]

Drug intake had been checked in 58 patients with pseudo-LE-syndrome. In view of the findings of the Zürich group a connection between the intake of Venopyronum¿ coated tablets and a pseudo-LE syndrome was strongly suspected in 45. In a further seven patients who also had taken the drug no definite connection could be shown because there was no temporal relationship between drug and disease. Three patients had taken Venopyronum-triplex capsules. Only three patients categorically denied ever having taken the drug in any form.

[Clinical and serological aspects of the pseudo-LE syndrome (author's transl)]

Fifteen women with pseudo-LE syndrome were studied. The dissease is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, myalgia, arthralgia, visceral manifestations (pericarditis, myocarditis, pleurisy, pleural effusion and lung involvement). A prominent feature was an abnormal liver function with elevated GOT and GPT levels in serum, and impaired bromsuophalein elimination. The incidence of varicosities and thrombophlebitis was markedly increased. There was a correlation between complement-fixing antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) titres and the degree of activity of the disease. A reverse correlation was observed between antimitochondrial antibody titres and the absolute lymphocyte count in peripheral blood. In all instances the antimitochondrial antibodies were of polyclonal origin, belonging mainly to immunoglobulin class IgG and, in a few patients, IgM, IgA, or IgD. AMA titres, lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood, sedimentation rate, serum iron level and alpha1- and alpha2-globulins proved to be valuable in following the course of the disease. Other values (C-reactive protein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, immunoglobulin and beta1c-globulin in serum) were not helpful.