Size distribution of lymphocytes in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The diameters of circulating peripheral lymphocytes were measured in 28 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. These were compared with lymphocyte measurements in 68 normal children, 19 children with asthma, and 12 children with cystic fibrosis. The average diameter of lymphocytes in normal children was found to be 11.2 microns. In contrast, the average diameter of lymphocytes in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis was 12.7 microns (P less than 0.0001). There were more lymphocytes with a diameter of 13 to 15 microns in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis than in normal children.