TY - JOUR
T1 - CD8 lymphocyte subsets in active polymyalgia rheumatica
T2 - Comparison with elderly-onset and adult rheumatoid arthritis and influence of prednisone therapy
AU - Boiardi, L.
AU - Salvarani, C.
AU - Macchioni, P.
AU - Maldini, M. Casadei
AU - Mancini, R.
AU - Beltrandi, E.
AU - Portioli, I.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - The aim of this study was to evaluate CD8 lymphocyte subsets in active polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), to determine whether low percentages of CD8+ cells could be used to differentiate PMR from elderly-onset (EORA) and adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to investigate the effects of prednisone on CD8 lymphocyte subsets. A significant reduction of percentages and absolute numbers of CD8bright+ cells was observed in patients with active PMR. Both CD8bright+, CD57- and CDSbright+, CD57+ subsets were significantly reduced. Reduced percentages of CD8+ cells were observed in 55% of patients with active PMR/giant cell arteritis (GCA), in 23% with EORA and in 44% with adult RA. Prednisone therapy in PMR patients, after only 1 week, increased the lymphocyte count and the absolute numbers of lymphocyte subsets significantly. However, the percentages of CD8bright+ cells remained persistently low for the 2 yr study period in 80% of the patients with low pre-treatment levels. Our results demonstrate that CD8 cell percentage is a poor epidemiological discriminator for PMR diagnosis. Notwithstanding the rise in absolute numbers of CD8 cell subsets induced by prednisone, the persistently low percentages of CD8+ cells in a group of PMR patients indicate an abnormality connected with the disease.
AB - The aim of this study was to evaluate CD8 lymphocyte subsets in active polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), to determine whether low percentages of CD8+ cells could be used to differentiate PMR from elderly-onset (EORA) and adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to investigate the effects of prednisone on CD8 lymphocyte subsets. A significant reduction of percentages and absolute numbers of CD8bright+ cells was observed in patients with active PMR. Both CD8bright+, CD57- and CDSbright+, CD57+ subsets were significantly reduced. Reduced percentages of CD8+ cells were observed in 55% of patients with active PMR/giant cell arteritis (GCA), in 23% with EORA and in 44% with adult RA. Prednisone therapy in PMR patients, after only 1 week, increased the lymphocyte count and the absolute numbers of lymphocyte subsets significantly. However, the percentages of CD8bright+ cells remained persistently low for the 2 yr study period in 80% of the patients with low pre-treatment levels. Our results demonstrate that CD8 cell percentage is a poor epidemiological discriminator for PMR diagnosis. Notwithstanding the rise in absolute numbers of CD8 cell subsets induced by prednisone, the persistently low percentages of CD8+ cells in a group of PMR patients indicate an abnormality connected with the disease.
KW - Adult rheumatoid arthritis
KW - CD8+ cell subsets
KW - Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis
KW - Polymyalgia rheumatica
KW - Prednisone
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M3 - Article
C2 - 8670597
AN - SCOPUS:0029990555
VL - 35
SP - 642
EP - 648
JO - British Journal of Rheumatology
JF - British Journal of Rheumatology
SN - 0263-7103
IS - 7
ER -