[Leukocyte function in reactive arthritis].

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Rheumatology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Reactive arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are inflammatory joint diseases with distinct etiologies.
• Leukocyte functions are crucial for immune response and pathogen clearance.
• Understanding immune cell activity is key to managing chronic inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate leukocyte functional parameters in patients with reactive arthritis compared to rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.
• To correlate these immune cell functions with clinical disease activity and features.
• To explore the role of nonspecific resistance in the chronicity of reactive arthritis.

Main Methods:

• Peripheral blood leukocytes were analyzed from 90 reactive arthritis patients, 23 rheumatoid arthritis patients, and 28 healthy individuals.
• Key parameters assessed included chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular enzyme activity.
• Clinical data on disease course and activity were collected and correlated with immunological findings.

Main Results:

• Significant disorders in leukocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular enzyme activity were observed in reactive arthritis patients.
• These functional impairments correlated with the specific clinical manifestations and overall activity of the disease.
• In reactive arthritis, persistent infection and immunopathological issues contributing to chronic synovitis were linked to the state of nonspecific resistance.

Conclusions:

• Leukocyte dysfunction is a prominent feature of reactive arthritis, impacting disease course and activity.
• Nonspecific resistance plays a critical role in the persistence of infection and chronic synovitis in reactive arthritis.
• These findings underscore the importance of immune cell function in the pathogenesis and management of reactive arthritis.