Measurement of inflammation in man and animals by radiometry

Abstract

1. A radiometer is described, which is sensitive to infrared radiation in the range 0-25 mum, and which, after calibration with a black body standard can be used as a non-contact, fast reading thermometer.2. An example of acute joint inflammation in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis is described. The temperatures over the joint measured by radiometry, followed inflammatory changes in the joint effusion.3. Using rats, the method of measuring inflammation by radiometry was compared with measurements of increase in joint size. Changes measured by radiometry preceded changes shown by increase in joint size.4. The radiometer method was able to demonstrate the effect of an anti-inflammatory drug, given orally, against carrageenin inflammation.5. The procedure was found to be an accurate means of measuring inflammation and the anti-inflammatory effects of drugs. It was faster and less tedious than the other methods for the quantitative measurement of inflammation in man and animals.