Comparison of the value of the Weltmann reaction and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with rheumatic heart disease

Abstract

1. 1. The variation of the Weltmann reaction with different clinical conditions in patients with actual or potential rheumatic heart disease has been described. 2. 2. There was no patient with clinically quiescent disease with a persistently abnormal Weltmann reaction, nor was there a patient with acute rheumatic fever and normal Weltmann reactions at that time. 3. 3. There was no relationship between persistently prolonged coagulation bands and the progressive development of rheumatic heart disease in the patients observed during the course of this study. 4. 4. In a single determination, a normal coagulation band and a normal sedimentation rate were equally accurate (93.9 and 93.1 per cent of 449 tests, respectively) in indicating the absence of clinical disease activity. 5. 5. An abnormal Weltmann reaction, especially a shortened coagulation band, was more frequently associated with clinical disease activity than was an elevated sedimentation rate. 6. 6. The statistically significant correlation between elevated sedimentation rates and shortened coagulation bands was pointed out, and the relationship of these results to an increase in alpha globulin in the blood was discussed.