[Serum complement level (C'H5O) during treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients].

Decreased total complement serum level (C'H50) was established in 72 per cent of the 78 patients examined, associated most likely with the developing processes of antigen-antibody reaction and the severe course of the illness. The applied treatment with different antirheumatic remedies, according to their mechanism of action, determined the respective changes in the complement level. Indomethacinum and chinoline derivatives induce complement values elevation, whereas the corticosteroids, salicylate and pyrazolone preparations lead to the complement values normalization.