OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of a clonal lymphoid disease in patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neutropenia. METHODS: Lymphocytes from 23 RA patients with either current neutropenia or a history of this complication were studied. RESULTS: Eight patients had a clonal rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta-chain gene. Phenotypically, they showed a distinctive pattern characterized by an inverted CD4+:CD8+ cell ratio and an increased number and percentage of CD57+/CD8+ and CD3+/DR+ lymphocytes. None had evidence of a lymphoid malignancy. CONCLUSION: Among RA patients with neutropenia, there is a subset who have a subclinical disease resembling T gamma lymphoproliferative disease.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of a clonal lymphoid disease in patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neutropenia. METHODS: Lymphocytes from 23 RApatients with either current neutropenia or a history of this complication were studied. RESULTS: Eight patients had a clonal rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta-chain gene. Phenotypically, they showed a distinctive pattern characterized by an inverted CD4+:CD8+ cell ratio and an increased number and percentage of CD57+/CD8+ and CD3+/DR+ lymphocytes. None had evidence of a lymphoid malignancy. CONCLUSION: Among RApatients with neutropenia, there is a subset who have a subclinical disease resembling T gamma lymphoproliferative disease.
Authors: Monika Prochorec-Sobieszek; Grzegorz Rymkiewicz; Hanna Makuch-Łasica; Mirosław Majewski; Katarzyna Michalak; Robert Rupiński; Krzysztof Warzocha; Renata Maryniak Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2008-05-12 Impact factor: 5.156