25
Marshallese. There were two low readingsin the
exposed group, one in a 63-year-old woman with
abdominalcarcinosis and ascites of ovarian origin
andthe other in an 81-year-old man ( #46) with
marked hypertensive and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
4. Veins. There was nearly a total absence of
peripheral venous disease — thrombophlebitis,
phlebothrombosis, varicose veins, or hemorrhoids —
in both men and women. Only one individual
showed varicose veins in the lower legs, in minimal
degree.
5. Other Cardiac Conditions. No patients were
observed with luetic, metabolic, or nutritional
Table 17
Age. yr
No. in
Persons with 2+ osteoarthritis
age group
Number
%
Males
0- 9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
>60
Total
28
23
17
9
16
8
5
0
0
0
2
1
5
4
106
12
Total
23
17
16
12
3
6
11
0
0
1
0
0
4
8
88
13
Total
was normal.
OPHTHALMOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS
Table 16 shows the major ophthalmological
findings. No major differences were found between the exposed and the unexposed groupsexcept, as has been noted in the past, for a slightly
greater incidence of pterygii, pingueculae, corneal
scars, and pigmentation in the exposed group. As
a whole both groups showedvision and accommodation levels above the average in the United
States. The absence of glaucoma wasalso notable.
The incidence of retinal arteriosclerosis, squints,
and congenital diseases was very low. No cases of
basal cell carcinomaof the eyelids or of retinitis
pigmentosa wereseen.
The degree of changes in accommodation,visual acuity, arcussenilis, and retinal arteriosclerosis
have been plotted against age. The plots show no
obvious differences between the exposed and unexposed populations. (See Figures 19 to 22 and
further discussion in the section on aging.)
Slit-lamp examinations of the lens showed no
opacities in the exposed Marshallese resembling
those that had been noted in the irradiated Japa-
ARTHRITIS SURVEY
1. Osteoarthritis
Males Plus Femaies
0- 9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
> 60
He was symptom-free and his electrocardiogram
nese.
Females
0- 9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
>60
rheumatic heart disease occurred in a boyof 14
years (76) with typical signs of mitral valvular
involvement and mocerate cardiac enlargement.
51
40
33
2]
19
14
16
0
0
1
2
I
9
12
0
0
3.0
9.5
2.3
64.3
75.0
194
25
12.9
The incidenceof osteoarthritis, as indicated by
the hand andwrist x-ray survey, is shown, by age
and sex, in Table 17. The small numberofindividuals in the susceptible age groups precludes an
accurate estimation of the prevalence; however,it
does not appear to be grossly different from that
found in the United States white population
studied by Dr. Alice Waterhouse and cited by
Blumberget al.® In accordance with generalclinical experience, there was no close correlation between x-ray findings and clinical symptomsof
arthritis, t.e., subjects with quite advanced osteoarthritis as determined by x-ray often had no com-
plaints referable to their joints.
aera
na
Incidence of Individuals With X-Ray Evidence
of Osteoarthritis in Rongelap, by Age and Sex
(Only those rated as 2+ or higher are included)
forms of heart disease. One evident case of inactive
A
lar disease was probably of lower incidencein the