title: The relationship between disease activity, immunoglobulins and lymphocyte sub-populations in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Fifteen patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (ESR greater than 30 mm/h and persistent well-defined symptomatology) and 15 patients with inactive ankylosing spondylitis were studied to investigate the effect of disease activity on T and B cell numbers, plasma viscosity (PV), C reactive protein (CRP) and immunoglobulins. The ability of patients' sera to inhibit normal T cell rosette formation was also assessed. We were able to confirm the close correlation of CRP and PV with clinical disease activity, but were unable to confirm the previously reported T lymphopoenia in ankylosing spondylitis in either of our disease groups. There was no evidence of a serum factor capable of inhibiting T cell rosette formation. B cell numbers, IgG and IgA levels were significantly higher in the active disease group, reflecting increased activity in the humoral immune system during active phases of ankylosing spondylitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D002097:C-Reactive Protein