Perturbations of humoral and cellular immunity in a patient with pigmented villonodular synovitis

Several parameters of the immune system have been studied in a patient with pigmented villonodular synovitis. Numerous immunoglobulin-synthesizing cells were found by immunofluorescent technics in both synovium and synovial fluid. Phytohemagglutinin-induced in vitro blastogenesis of peripheral blood T lymphocytes was absent whereas B-lymphocyte blastogenesis was preserved. These results indicate a necessity for evaluating immune responsiveness in other patients with pigmented villonodular synovitis.