Abstract
5 Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated with the plasma exchange therapy. In coculture of patient T cells plus patient B cells, IgM-RF production was reduced without significant changes of total IgM production after the therapy. This phenomenon was not associated with changes in percentages of T cell subsets. These results may imply recovery of the suppressor signal from T cells and/or responsiveness of B cells to that signal. On the other hand, 23 patients with RA were treated with a low dose (2 to 5mg/kg/day) of cyclosporine A. Two-color flowcytometric analysis showed significant reductions of percentages of T cells having HLA-DR antigen at the end of study.
