[The suppressor cell activity in rheumatoid arthritis]

The rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation into peripheral blood lymphocytes was determined immediately after the addition of 1 microgram of Con A and after 24 h of preincubation period the stimulation in normal controls was 3 times higher than after the immediate addition of mitogen. In rheumatics the increase was 1,7-fold only. The results were interpreted as indicating a lack of suppressor cell activity in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis.