Directed migration of circulating polymorphonuclear leucocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a defect in the plasma.

The migration of peripheral polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis has been studied both in vivo and in vitro. A significant reduction in the accumulation of PMNs in skin chambers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to controls was observed but no defect in cell movement was detected when the isolated PMNs from the patients were exposed to activated control plasma. However, when PMNs from the control group were tested against activated plasma from patients with rheumatoid arthritis there was a significant decrease in their chemotactic response. It is proposed that there is a humoral defect in the plasma of the patients.