[Analysis of immune disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and heart involvement]

Examinations of 121 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) included immunological testing for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), lymphocyte blastogenesis test, and leukocyte migration inhibition test and functional cardiological examinations (ECG and EchoCG). RA patients with positive ANA test (n = 43) more often developed immune disorders: the titer of rheumatoid factor was higher and antibodies to type I collagen were more often detected; this was paralleled by decreased cellular immunity and macrophage formation in spontaneous lymphocyte blastogenesis test. The same group more often had ECG and EchoCG deviations. A conclusion is made about a probable role of immune disorders in the development of cardiac disease.