Rheumatoid arthritis of the robust reaction type.

In the course of 6 years a group of patients was isolated who were characterized by a curious discrepancy. On the one hand they showed a robust personality and a practically infinite capacity for work, but on the other hand they presented two unfavourable features, viz. substantial subcutaneous nodules (often the reason for referral) and a high titre in the Rose test. This type of reaction to rheumatoid arthritis has been tentatively called the robust type (Figs 1, 2). The present paper reports a study of some further properties seen in this type of patient.