title: Immunohistological features of synovitis in ankylosing spondylitis: a comparison with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The immunohistological features of the synovial membrane in ankylosing spondylitis, HLA-B27 associated oligoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis wer examined with particular reference to T lymphocyte subsets. T helper (CD4+) cells clearly outnumbered T suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) cells in rheumatoid arthritis, whereas both cell types were present in equal numbers in ankylosing spondylitis. A reduction of CD4+/CD45R+ suppressor/inducer cells relative to CD4+/UCHL1+ helper/inducer cells was apparent in all diagnostic groups. The observations were suggestive of disease specific inflammatory responses within synovial membrane.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Southampton General Hospital.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cawley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000276:immunology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology