The Formol-Gel Reaction in Rheumatic Fever: An Aid in the Diagnosis of Active Carditis

The Formol-Gel Reaction and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Acute Rheumatism

“…The correlation in results corresponded very closely to those noted by Gibson, and outstanding discrepancies were rarely encountered. This finding is not in accord with the observations of Schultz and Rose (1939). In Table X. the two series of results are contrasted.…”

“…A possible explanation for these divergent results was the greater frequency of delayed but persistent formol-gel reactions in the series recorded by Schultz and Rose. In the present investigation it was found that, in general, a change from a normal to an abnormal result in one test was synchronous with a similar change in the other. As compared with the sedimentation rate, there may be delay both in the appearance and disappearance of a positive gel reaction, as noted by Schultz and Rose (1939), but the positive gel reaction may precede the appearance of the initial abnormal result in the sedimentation rate.…”

“…Gibson emphasised that the formol-gel test was less sensitive than the sedimentation test in finding evidence of activity in early cases, and considered that it should be used as a supplementary, but not substitute test. On the other hand, Schultz and Rose (1939) expressed the opinion that, whereas in various febrile illnesses other than rheumatic fever a close parallelism was demonstrable between the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the formol-gel reaction, unique results were obtained in rheumatic fever. Early in the course of illness negative formol-gel reactions were frequently associated with very rapid sedimentation rates, while after the development of active carditis positive gel reactions often appeared when the sedimentation rate was reverting to normal limits.…”

The Formol-Gel Test on Plasma and Serum in Rheumatic Cases

“…These include reports by Green et al (1939), Scull andPemberton (1940), andMilles andSalt (1941). Schultz and Rose (1939) suggested that the test may be an additional aid in determining the presence of carditis in acute rheumatism. Green et al (1939) did not find evidence to support this.…”