Showing papers on "Inflammatory arthritis published in 1975"

Surface characteristics of synovial fluid and peripheral blood lymphocytes in inflammatory arthritis.

Abstract: In order to characterize the T- and B-cell populations of inflammatory arthritides, synovial fluid and peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and rheumatoid variant diseases (RV) were studied. Normal peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined as controls. T cells were identified by spontaneous sheep red blood cell (E) rosette formation. B cells were determined by complement receptor lymphocyte (EAC) rosette formation and by the presence of surface immunoglobulins (SIg) utilizing fluoresceinated polyvalent antiglobulin. Synovial fluids were analyzed in terms of duration, mucin quality, white cell count, and differential. Synovial fluid and peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with RA and RV were distributed in T- and B-cell percentages similar to those found in normal peripheral blood. In contrast, significant T-cell depression was observed in the percentage of synovial fluid and peripheral blood lymphocytes of SLE and JRA patients. This depression was apparent in comparison with normal peripheral blood and with the synovial fluid and peripheral blood from RA patients. B-cell percentages were similar in all patient groups and in comparison to normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. No differences were noted in B-cell percentages when the EAC and SIg techniques of identification were compared. The percentage of cells bearing neither T- nor B-cell markers (null cells) was enumerated for each patient group and found to be significantly elevated in the synovial fluid and peripheral blood of SLE and JRA patients. Though the mean synovial fluid and peripheral blood null cell percentages in RA patients were similar to those in controls, a definite bimodal distribution was found in the synovial fluids. These data suggest that evaluation of T-, B-, and null-cell populations may be clinically useful in differentiating patients with SLE and JRA from those with rheumatoid arthritis and variant diseases.

High synovial fluid white blood cell counts in pseudogout; Possible confusion with septic arthritis.

Abstract: During a 12-month period, we have treated five patients with acute inflammatory arthritis and synovial fluid leukocyte counts of 65,000 to 100,00/cu mm with 93% to 100% polymorphonuclear cells, calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the synovial fluid, and negative cultures. Four of these five were origingally treated for septic joints. We would like to emphasize this relatively uncommon, but important manifestation of pseudogout.

Complement activation in seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. 125I-C1q binding capacity and complement breakdown products in serum and synovial fluid.

Abstract: 1. The detection and quantitation of immune complex-like material in synovial fluid and in serum from patients with joint diseases was done through the measurement of the capacity to bind radiolabeled C1q. It was found that 65% of synovial fluid samples from seropositive or seronegative RA patients had a high C1q binding capacity as compared to other joint diseases. Immune complex-like material was also detected in 63% of serum samples from seropositive RA patients. 2. The existence of C3 or C3PA breakdown products in synovial fluid from most of the synovial fluids from RA patients probably reflects an activation of the complement system occurring in both forms of the disease. C3PA breakdown products were never found in degenerative or post-traumatic joint diseases and only occasionally in other inflammatory arthritis. Apart from their pathogenic significance, these results may have some interest for the clinical investigation of patients with joint diseases.

HL-A27 and arthritis.

Abstract: In patients with recent inflammatory arthritis HL-A27 was seen in 6 out of 7 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, in 15 out of 18 patients with Reiter's disease, in 9 out of 12 patients with reactive postinfectious arthritis, in 22 out of 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and in 2 out of 14 patients with other types of inflammatory arthritis. In two control series HL-A27 occurred in 46 out of 326 persons and in 3 out of 34 persons. The high frequency of HL-A27 in RA patients is in disagreement with previous results by other investigators. The explanation for this may be either that the diagnostic criteria do not apply at the early stage of the disease, or that there is a high prevalence of HL-A27 associated RA in Finland.

Mycoplasma antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Sera of 100 patients under examination at the Outpatient Department of the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital were studied by the indirect hemagglutination technique, using both mycoplasma reference strains, and isolates from RA and SLE as antigens. The series consisted of five groups: I, definite RA (49 patients); II, probable RA (11); III, possible RA or nonspecific inflammatory arthritis (34); IV, osteoarthrosis (2); V, Reiter's disease (4). Mycoplasma antibodies in titres of 16 or higher were encountered in groups I-IV in 26, 8, 19, and one case respectively. Twenty-one out of 106 blood donors had antibodies against an isolate from RA and/or M. arthritidis strain PG 6. The titres found were 16 or 32, except in two cases, 128. In the definite RA group, 21 out of 26 patients possessing mycoplasma antibodies, showed titres of 16 or higher against isolates from RA and/or SLE, 12 against M. arthritidis strain PG 6 and/or Campo, 8 against M. fermentans, and 6 against a T-strain from NGU. Antibodies against M. a...