ee
_.
showed enlargement of the proximal! and distal
Table 18
interphalangeal joints and ulnar deviation of the
hand. No rhuematoid nodules were present. The
x-ray changes were consistent with a diagnosis of
Results of Bentonite Flocculation Test
Age, yr
No. in
age group
BFT tuter
O
;
Q- 9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
>60
Total
Me
te
nye
bse
osteoarthritis of the hands, but there was no eviee
las
but rheumatoid arthritis cannot be completely
ruled out.
Males
L+
24
7
9
13
Ll
tt
9
3
2
2bo003
Ue
15
ot
lL
Q
=
=
=
20
9
1
=
9
2
=
~
-
~
{
|
-
99
84
0
0
2
9
+
4. Unusual Skeletal Findings
As noted previously, hand and wrist x-ravs had.
shown congenital hypoplasia of the middle phalanx in some children. The same condition was
noted in some of the adults (Figure 12). The mid-
dle phalanx of the fifth finger was shortened and
sightly broadened. This was found both unilater-
2
1
l
_
-
=
1
|
2
2?
1
6B
=
=
I
=
{
2
_
-
~
-
~
1
~
-
o
85
66
wn
8
13
{io
18
14
12,
5
5
8
7
16
11
~
Total
12
ao
0- 9
o
Females
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-39
>>60
dence for rneumatoid arthritis. The BFT was
negative. This is probablya case of osteoarthritis,
ally and bilaterally and was occasionally associated with lengthening of the ulna. Twenty subjects
showed definite changes, and some additional ones
had only moderate shortening of the phalanx.
*
DENTAL SURVEY
P
Majuro Children
2. Rheumatoid Factor in Sera
The prevalence of sera positive for “rheumatoid
factor” by the bentonite flocculation test (BFT) is
shown in Table 18. Individual data arelisted in
Appendix 6 according to age and sex. The total
prevalence of positive sera is not greatly different
from that reported for white American populations. There was no apparent difference in arthritis
incidence between the exposed and unexposed
groups. Three individuals, all in the unexposed
group, had definitely positive sera (Table 19), but
Thirty Majuro children were examined, ranging in age from 2 to 13 years andselected at random. Widespread caries were present in 75% of
the children <12 years old. Many erupting per-
manent teeth showed retained root fragments in
the adjacent gingival crevice. Although the oral
hygiene could be rated fair to good, the incidence
of caries remained high. Bunching of the lower
incisors was a common finding in males and females in the 7 to 9-year age group. Eruption time
these findings, since they were common in the
of the bicuspids appeared advanced, possibly because of premature loss of the deciduous "Jars.
All the children in this age group showed signs of
retarded jaw development in comparison with
children in the continental United States.
no apparent explanation for the presence of rheu-
Rongelap Children
with no evidence of joint disease. One (#953) had
bronchial asthma and prostatic hypertrophy, but
population, were probably coincidental. Thereis
matoid factor in these individuals.
a
'y
3. Clinical Evidence of Arthritis
A 59-year-old male (#878) had some clinical
findings compatible with rheumatoid arthritis. He
had complained of pain and swelling in his hands,
wrists, and knees for 5 to 10 years, but with no
limitation of function. Physical examination
No significant difference was found in caries
incidence, eruption time, and morphology of the
teeth, or growth of the jaws, between the exposed
and the unexposed children. In both groups about
20%showed retarded jaw development which had
resulted in narrowing of the arches plus bunching
ofthe lower anterior teeth. The Rongelap children had a much lower incidence of caries than