title: [The effect of immunosuppressive drugs on expression of surface antigens of lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: One hundred and fifty patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated with immunosuppressive drugs for 12 months. Fifty nine patients were treated with methotrexate (MTX), 15 with cyclophosphamide (CTX), 30 with prednisone (PRE) and 46 with non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID). The cell surface phenotype of lymphocyte was analyzed using immunofluorescence methods ans a variety of monoclonal antibodies. The studies were performed using fluorescence activated cell scanner (FACScan) and epifluorescence microscope. No changes in the percentage of CD3, CD4, CD8 were observed. However, in the MTX treated group the percentage of CD19+ (15.1% before treatment vs 10.2% after 12 months MTX treatment (p < 0.05) and CD5+CD19+ B-cells was decreased. In CTX treated group the percentage of both B cells (17.4% vs 11.0% (p < 0.5)) and activated T cells was decreased (CD25+: 2.8% vs 1.1%, p < 0.05 and HLA-DR+: 22.1% vs 12.7%, p < 0.01). Patients treated with prednisone expressed several changes in lymphocyte phenotype i.e. decreasing of activated T cells (CD3+CD25+: 6.9% vs 3.6%, p < 0.01), B cells (CD5+CD19+: 3.4% vs 0.8%, p < 0.001), and NK cells (CD16+: 14.8% vs 8.5, p < 0.01 and CD56+: 16.3% vs 10.7%, p < 0.01). Analyzing immunosuppressive drugs appeared to be very sufficient in the RA treatment. Moreover, the correlation between percentage of both B lymphocytes and activated T cells, and activity of disease were shown.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Reumatologii, IChW, Akademii Medycznej im. K. Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lacki
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mackiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000187:drug effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate