[The determination of the heparin-dependent monocyte activity in rheumatoid arthritis].

Heparin elevates the level of NBT-positive monocytes in donors and patients with osteoarthrosis deformans and rheumatoid arthritis. Patient's rheumatoid arthritis cells were found the most sensitive to heparin. Excessive heparin-dependent activity of monocytes in this case reflects the activity of the rheumatoid process, the NBT test with heparin being more sensitive in the diagnosis of disease activity than measurement of red cell sedimentation rate or of blood C-reactive protein, gamma- and alpha 2-globulin levels.