title: Contrasting effect of oral and intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment on phenotypes of human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
abstract: Twenty three rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX) were observed for 6 months. Eight patients received CTX in a single intravenous dose (group I) and 15 orally in a single daily dose (group II). The surface antigens of lymphocytes, isolated from peripheral blood, were determined using immunofluorescence method. The clinical improvement was observed both in group I and in group II of patients. However, in patients receiving CTX intravenously amelioration of the disease appeared quicker. The percentage of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells remained unchanged. In group I we observed decrease in the number of CD4+ T cells (60.1 +/- 11.5% and 43.8 +/- 12.5%, before and after treatment respectively, p < 0.01), in group II this level remained unchanged. In both groups the percentage of CD19+ B cells decreased (14.7 +/- 9.2% and 8.0 +/- 6.1%, before and after treatment respectively in group I, p < 0.01; 17.4 +/- 12.3% and 11.0 +/- 7.1%, before and after treatment respectively in group II, p < 0.01). Moreover, the percentage of activated T cells (CD25+ cells and HLA-DR+ cells) was reduced in both groups.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D004008:Diclofenac; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007213:Indomethacin