Observations on the responses of synovial lymphocytes to viral antigens in rheumatoid arthritis and Reiter's syndrome.

The responses of synovial lymphocytes to 12 microbiological antigens, including 8 viral antigens, were studied with the 3H-thymidine uptake procedure in 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 4 patients with Reiter's syndrome. In 4 patients with rheumatoid factor (RF) negative RA, responses to the paramyxovirus antigens, parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial were marked, with lesser responses to adenovirus and mumps antigens. The synovial lymphocytes of 6 patients with RF titers of greater than or equal to 1:160 showed only minimal antigenic responses.