Serum beta-endorphin in rheumatic disorders.

Serum beta-endorphin levels have been determined in patients with a wide variety of rheumatic disorders as well as a group of healthy men and women controls. Normal levels of endorphin have been found in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, pseudogout and psoriatic arthritis have diminished levels of endorphins. Speculation is offered to explain these changes. Perturbations in endorphins are postulated to be part of the organism's protective mechanism in inflammatory arthritis.