Defective reticuloendothelial system function in rheumatoid arthritis.
The function of the splenic reticuloendothelial system in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.) was assessed by determining the clearance of autologous heat-damaged erythrocytes from the circulation. 11/13 patients with active R.A. had a defect in the clearance of red cells and there was a significant inverse correlation between splenic function and the level of circulating immune complexes detected by a Clq-binding assay. Splenic function was normal in 13 patients with inactive disease who had been treated with either gold or prednisone. A serial study on 1 patient with active R.A. showed a clear correlation between fluctuations in disease activity, splenic function, and the level of circulating immune complexes.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D002097:C-Reactive Protein