Lymphocyte subsets associated with T cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and neutropenia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of a clonal lymphoid disease in patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neutropenia.


METHODS
Lymphocytes from 23 RA patients with either current neutropenia or a history of this complication were studied.


RESULTS
Eight patients had a clonal rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta-chain gene. Phenotypically, they showed a distinctive pattern characterized by an inverted CD4+:CD8+ cell ratio and an increased number and percentage of CD57+/CD8+ and CD3+/DR+ lymphocytes. None had evidence of a lymphoid malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Among RA patients with neutropenia, there is a subset who have a subclinical disease resembling T gamma lymphoproliferative disease.
Gonzales-Chambers
R
R
Montefiore University Hospital, Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213.
Przepiorka
D
D
Winkelstein
A
A
Agarwal
A
A
Starz
T W
TW
Kline
W E
WE
Hawk
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D010641:Phenotype; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta