[Study of T and B lymphocytes in blood and synovial fluid during rheumatoid arthritis]

The quantitative study of lymphocyte populations is one means of approaching the immunological profile of patients with rheumatoid polyarthritis. In the present work we have studied the proportions of T and B lymphocytes in the blood and synovial fluid of 70 patients presenting classical or clearly defined rheumatoid polyarthritis. The number of T cells (E rosettes and anti HTLA serum) and B cells (membrane immunofluorescence and EAC rosettes) were found to be identical in both patients with rheumatoid polyarthritis and healthy subjects of the same age. On the other hand the number of "fast" rosettes, indicating a sub-population of T effector cells, and of EA rosettes formed at the expemnse of cells with a receptor for IgG Fc, are reduced in the blood and increased in the rheumatoid synovial fluid. In the course of rheumatoid polyarthritis there is therefore a displacement of certain lymphocytic sub-populations from the blood towards the synovial site where they are probably involved in lesional mechanisms.