Evaluation of certain immunity parameters in rheumatoid arthritis, treated with cortisone

The authors present their study on interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R), transferrin receptors (R-Tr), CD-4/CD-8 ratio, T-lymphocytes after therapy with a corticosteroid (125 mg/die), in 7 female geriatric patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The study was performed with conjugated monoclonal antibody marking the lymphocytes with fluorescein (FITC) and phycoerythrin (PE). Using the considered parameters a depressant effect was presumed on T-lymphocytes and on the immune defences in the first 6 hours after starting therapeutic cortisone infusion. The proliferative effect on T-lymphocytes, CD4 and on the receptor state of the membrane, for IL-2R and Tr-R, was already evident in the 11-12th hour with a peak at 24 hours. It is therefore useful to follow the evolution of the immune state, even using the above parameters, in order to evaluate the correct therapeutic course.