A flowcytometric study of CD4+ & CD19+ cell lymphopenia in patients with alopecia areata.

Twenty five patients with alopecia areata and 20 healthy controls were studied by flowcytometry employing direct two colour immunofluorescence in erythrocyte lysed whole blood. A significant reduction was observed in helper/inducer (CD4+) lymphocytes (29.4 +/- 7.4 vs 39.45 +/- 8.0, P < 0.01) and B (CD 19+) lymphocytes (11.04 +/- 6.57 vs 15.0 +/- 5.05, P < 0.01) in comparison with healthy controls. Decrease in T-lymphocytes (CD3+) and suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) was not significant and activated (HLADR+) lymphocytes and natural killer cells (CD16+ and CD56+) were within normal limits. Our findings suggest a significant T helper (CD4+) and B (CD19+) cell lymphopenia in alopecia areata.

Plasma reactive nitrogen intermediate levels in patients with clinically active rheumatoid arthritis.

We studied reactive nitrogen intermediate levels in 31 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking indomethacin and 20 healthy controls using nitrite and citrulline levels, measured by spectrophotometry, as markers. Twenty patients with RA were followed up after 4 and 8 wk of treatment with additional therapy in the form of methotrexate. Mean nitrite levels in 31 patients were 0.94 +/- 0.41 mumol/ml and 20 controls it was 1.18 +/- 0.99. After treatment with methotrexate for 4 and 8 wk the levels were 0.9 +/- 0.45 and 1.25 +/- 1.15 mumol/ml, respectively. Mean citrulline levels in all patients was 1.68 +/- 0.11 and controls was 1.39 +/- 0.6 mumol/ml. Following therapy with methotrexate for 4 and 8 wk the levels were 1.40 +/- 0.49 and 1.40 +/- 0.51 mumol/ml, respectively. It is possible that serum levels of these products may not reflect alterations in the synovial fluid levels. Alternatively, whatever lowering may have been achieved by the anti-inflammatory effect of the therapy may have been countered by drug derived free radicals.

Bacillaemia and Mycobacterium leprae cell wall antigen in paucibacillary leprosy.

A study was undertaken to estimate bacillaemia and M. leprae antigen detection in 54 paucibacillary leprosy patients (TT, BT). Acid-fast bacilli were detected in the blood of 14.8% patients of borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy. M. leprae antigen was demonstrated in 48.2% patients of BT leprosy. Slit-skin smears were negative in all these patients. At the end of treatment (6 months of WHO-MDT) all the follow-up blood samples were negative for both bacillaemia and M. leprae antigen in the serum.