Oxygen free radicals in children with acute rheumatic fever

We have investigated the relationship between oxygen free radicals and acut e rheumatic fever with regard to diagnosis of the disease process. At the t ime of diagnosis, we measured the levels of reactive oxygen molecules in th e plasma, this being a parameter for oxygen free radicals, and discovered t he levels to be significantly higher when compared with those measured in a control group (P<0.05). The levels measured in the plasma, however, were n ot statistically different among patients with and without carditis. We found a progressive decrease in the levels measured in the plasma when p atients with acute rheumatic fever were tested on the 15(th), 30(th) and 90 (th) days subsequent to diagnosis. By the 90(th) day, levels measured in th e plasma were still higher, but no longer significantly elevated, when comp ared with the control group. The present study is preliminary, but raises t he possibility that measurement of oxygen free radicals in the plasma could be used as a laboratory test for active state of acute rheumatic fever. Fu rther investigations will be needed, nonetheless, to determine the clinical application of this technique.