title: Methylprednisolone pulse therapy induced fall in natural killer cell activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Natural killer (NK) cell activity was studied in 8 patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by investigating the killing of K 562 cells by peripheral blood lymphocytes before, during, and after intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT). MPPT produced a considerable fall in NK activity and after 3 months NK activity was less than half that before MPPT.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008775:Methylprednisolone