engleski

Alterations of immunoglobulin and circulating immune complexes levels, cell-mediated immunity and phagocyte functions in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Our eaim was to test several parameters of humoral and cellular immunity as well as the effector systems (phagocytes and complement) in patients with HLA B27 and ankylosing spondylitis. Besides the characteristically elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, we found higher amounts of IgG, IgA and IgE, higher amount of circulating immune complexes and C3, cellular immunity to IgG, lower percentages of T lymphocytes and lower leucocyte's ingestion capacity. The patients were seronegative for the rheumatoid factor and showed no changes in the amount of IgM and C4, percentage of B lymphocytes and ADCC capacity. These findings indicate activation of the immune system. It still remains uncelar whether this activation is an epiphenomenon or the cause of pathologic processes in ankylosing spondylitis.

immunoglobulins ; complement rheumatoid factor ; lymphocyte subpopulations ; rosette techniques ; fagocytosis

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