title: Screening of cellular immunity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by phytohaemagglutinin skin test.
abstract: Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin test was used for screening of non-specific cell-mediated immunity in 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its results compared with those obtained in age- and sex-matched controls with non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Purified protein derivative (PPD) of M. tuberculosis was used for testing of specific cell-mediated immunity in the same two groups. The reactivity to both PHA and PPD was found to be significantly lower in patients with RA, indicating the decreased cell-mediated immunity in this disease, as compared to controls.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D012882:Skin Tests; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D014373:Tuberculin; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor