title: CD8 lymphocyte subsets in active polymyalgia rheumatica: comparison with elderly-onset and adult rheumatoid arthritis and influence of prednisone therapy.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate CD8 lymphocyte subsets in active polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), to determine whether low percentages of CD8+ cells could be used to differentiate PMR from elderly-onset (EORA) and adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to investigate the effects of prednisone on CD8 lymphocyte subsets. A significant reduction of percentages and absolute numbers of CD8bright+ cells was observed in patients with active PMR. Both CD8bright+, CD57- and CD8bright+, CD57+ subsets were significantly reduced. Reduced percentages of CD8+ cells were observed in 55% of patients with active PMR/giant cell arteritis (GCA), in 23% with EORA and in 44% with adult RA. Prednisone therapy in PMR patients, after only 1 week, increased the lymphocyte count and the absolute numbers of lymphocyte subsets significantly. However, the percentages of CD8bright+ cells remained persistently low for the 2 yr study period in 80% of the patients with low pre-treatment levels. Our results demonstrate that CD8 cell percentage is a poor epidemiological discriminator for PMR diagnosis. Notwithstanding the rise in absolute numbers of CD8 cell subsets induced by prednisone, the persistently low percentages of CD8+ cells in a group of PMR patients indicate an abnormality connected with the disease.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Divisione di Medicina Interna (Unità Reumatologica), Azienda Ospedaliera Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boiardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macchioni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casadei Maldini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beltrandi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Portioli
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D018959:CD57 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011241:Prednisone