Open AccessMethylprednisolone infusion therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The effect on synovial fluid lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory indices
Author(s) -
Bertouch James V.,
RobertsThomson Peter J.,
Smith Malcolm D.,
Woodruff Timothy G.,
Brooks Peter M.,
Bradley John
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780290105
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , methylprednisolone , medicine , synovial fluid , immunology , lymphocyte , monoclonal antibody , immune system , gastroenterology , antibody , pathology , alternative medicine , osteoarthritis
Paired samples of synovial fluid (SF) and blood were obtained prior to and at 4 and 24 hours following high‐dose methylprednisolone infusion therapy in a group of patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis. After therapy there was a significant decrease in numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, immune complexes, and C‐reactive protein in the SF. Measurement of lymphocyte subsets, using monoclonal antibodies, revealed that at 4 hours postinfusion, there was a disproportionate decrease in the percentage of SF lymphocytes expressing class II antigens (HLA‐DR or Ia‐like). These data suggest that glucocorticoids induce rapid changes in SF indices of disease activity and may directly influence T cell activation within the rheumatoid joint.