1. |
- Malmvall, B E, et al.
(author)
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Immune complexes, rheumatoid factors, and cellular immunological parameters in patients with giant cell arteritis
- 1981
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In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - 1468-2060. ; 40:3, s. 276-280
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Circulating immune complexes were found in 2 of 15 patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) by using a solid phase Clq enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The prevalence in controls was 5%. Rheumatoid factor could be demonstrated in 2 out of 27 patients and in 11% of the controls by using a similar ELISA technique. The prevalence of T cells in blood was similar in 25 patients with GCA and in controls. The blood lymphocyte blastogenic response to the mitogens, phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin-A, and pokeweed mitogen did not differ in 25 untreated patients compared with controls. Stimulation of lymphocytes by arterial homogenates was tested in 8 patients. In no case could a significant simulation by obtained. We conclude that immune complexes and rheumatoid factors are present in the same low frequency in GCA patients as in the normal population, and that the studied parameters of cellular immunity appear to be normal.
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2. |
- Sjöblom, K G, et al.
(author)
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Plasma levels of beta-2 microglobulin in rheumatoid arthritis.
- 1980
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In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - 1468-2060. ; 39:4, s. 333-339
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A simple and inexpensive method is described for the determination of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) by enzyme-amplified single radial immunodiffusion. The values obtained with this method correlate well with those determined by means of a commerical RIA kit. Using the immunodiffusion method we have measured the plasma levels of beta 2-MG in 135 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and normal serum creatinine levels. 33% of the patients had increased concentrations of beta 2 MG, but the levels were found to correlate poorly with the values of several variables generally used as indices of the degree inflammatory activity in RA. Furthermore, in contrast to earlier claims to the contrary, beta 2-MG correlated positively with age. The value of beta 2-MG in plasma as an index of inflammatory activity in RA is questioned.
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