Phenolic compounds in the treatment of rheumatic fever. I. A study of gentisic acid derivatives.

The chemical compounds known to suppress the manifestations of rheumatic fever are reviewed and the antirheumatic nature of certain phenolic compounds discussed. We report on 75 patients with acute rheumatic fever who have been treated with gentisate compounds and discuss the records of 44 of these patients who have been followed for 3 to 20 months after discontinuing drug therapy. These patients were treated with sodium gentisate, "Gen," methyl cellulose-sodium gentisate and gentisic acid ethanolamide. The urinary excretion records of these drugs are given with selected blood level studies. The antihyaluronidase effect of salicylic acid metabolites and the relationship of these phenolic compounds to the pituitary-adrenal axis are discussed.