Immunological assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis--evaluation of the effects of propranolol.

Some humoral and cellular immune functions were evaluated in a group of 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after 3 months of treatment with the beta-blocking agent propranolol. Humoral parameters measured were serum immunoglobulins including IgE, auto-antibodies, C-reactive protein, total haemolytic complement activity and the complement components C3 and C4. Cellular functions assessed were polymorphonuclear leucocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis and postphagocytic nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, hexose monophosphate shunt activity and myeloperoxidase-mediated iodination of ingested protein; lymphocyte transformation to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A was also investigated. No alteration of humoral factors and neutrophil functions was observed following propranolol administration (40 mg 3 times a day), but lymphocyte transformation was significantly increased. Improved lymphocyte function did not correlate with clinical improvement.