[Controlled blind study of the effectiveness of hemosorption in rheumatoid arthritis]

Nine patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis underwent first placebo-hemosorption and then hemosorption. According to the arthrogram there was no significant difference between the action of these two procedures during the first three days. Both procedures evoked activation of the complement system and changed the balance of immunoregulatory subpopulations of lymphocytes. Short-term stimulation of phagocytosis and a decrease in the level of circulating immune complexes coinciding with it in time were specific for hemosorption.