title: Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in active rheumatoid arthritis--effects of different therapies on previously untreated patients.
abstract: Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subset levels were prospectively analyzed in previously untreated patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with different drug regimens. Before treatment the patient group had reduced numbers of Leu 2a+ lymphocytes compared with controls (p less than 0.001). During penicillamine and chloroquine treatment a marked reduction in absolute numbers of Leu 3a+ lymphocytes was seen (p less than 0.01), whereas treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs was characterized by increased absolute numbers of Leu 2a+ lymphocytes (p less than 0.02). Thus, there seems to be a predictable variation of T lymphocyte subsets in RA with certain drug regimens.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D002738:Chloroquine; D010396:Penicillamine