[Morphology of immune inflammation in rheumatic diseases]

The results of combined histochemical, immunomorphological, and immunological studies on biopsy, operation, and autopsy materials from 184 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 41 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 66 patients with systemic sclerodermia. 35 patients with periarteritis nodosa are summarized. The main morphological changes in rheumatic diseases were found to be due to immunopathological reactions manifested as immune inflammation. According to the pattern of immunopathological mechanism, early and late immune inflammation manifested by humoral and cellular immunopathological reactions are distinguished. The predominant localization of lesions typical of each rheumatic disease, and the chronic self-maintaining pattern of inflammation are discussed.