PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J R O'Dell
AU  - S Lemley-Gillespie
AU  - W R Palmer
AU  - A L Weaver
AU  - G F Moore
AU  - L W Klassen
TI  - Serum selenium concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis.
AID  - 10.1136/ard.50.6.376
DP  - 1991 Jun 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 376--378
VI  - 50
IP  - 6
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/50/6/376.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/50/6/376.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis1991 Jun 01; 50
AB  - Selenium is a trace element and an essential part of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which protects cells from oxidative damage. Selenium has been shown to have antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immune altering effects. Serum selenium concentrations in 101 patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis were found to be significantly lower than those in 29 normal, healthy controls (mean (SD) 148 (42) v 160 (25) micrograms/l) and also lower than those in eight patients with fibrositis (148 (42) v 166 (25) micrograms/l). It is speculated that serum selenium concentrations may modulate the effect of viral or other infections in subjects with the appropriate genetic background and in this way enhance the development or progression of rheumatoid arthritis.