Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity is frequently elevated in the presence of acute tissue damage5,6 and has been found to be elevated in acute rheumatic fever.4 Determination of this enzyme might, therefore, be helpful in the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever and in the evaluation of the presence and severity of rheumatic carditis. In order to define more clearly the value of such determinations, patients with rheumatic fever have been studied during their acute and convalescent periods by relating serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) activity to the results of certain other laboratory tests and to the clinical status of the patient. Elevation of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase has also been found during the course of salicylate administration.7 In this study, specific attention has been given to the relationship of salicylate and cortisone therapy to the serological studies and clinical status of the patient.
Methods
Eighteen patients selected