[Determination of lymphocyte subpopulations and their activation status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with plasma exchange and pulse therapy].
In patients with systemic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and extraarticular manifestation treated with plasma exchange or prednisolute-pulse-therapy, respectively, and followed by an additional immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide we have assessed the lymphocyte subpopulations of the peripheral blood and the cells expressing activating markers by means of monoclonal antibodies using fluorescence microscopy or fluorescence flow cytometry. Before therapy the patients showed a very different level of lymphocyte subpopulations tested. During treatment in both groups of patients there was not any uniform tendency in CD3, CD4 and CD8 positive cells. The percentage of activated lymphocytes was initially elevated and we found significant reduction, mainly in the 4th week after starting of therapy. Following in the most cases the level recovered to the state before therapy. For the single patients an individual pattern of reaction was evident in relation to the initial position before treatment.
Sauer
H
H
Abteilung Rheumatologie, Universität Leipzig.
Häntzschel
H
H
Seidel
W
W
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone
Bestimmung von Lymphozytensubpopulationen und ihres Aktivierungsstadiums bei Patienten mit Rheumatoid-Arthritis unter Plasmaaustausch und Puls-Therapie.