[Cellular immunity in rheumatoid arthritis. Effect of therapy].

In 89 cases of rheumatoid polyarthritis the number of B lymphocytes was shown by an immunofluorescence technique and the number T lymphocytes by a rosette test. 30 untreated polyarthritics were distinguished into two groups: in one there was no change in the number of T cellules; in the other there was a reduction in the number of T cells and lymphopenia. The same differences were found under corticotherapy (10 cases), antimalarial drugs (8 cases), penicillamine (21 cases), chrysotherapy (11 cases) and levamisole (9 cases).