The mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) is impaired in multiple sclerosis and certain arthritides, notably rheumatoid arthritis. The present study shows that this phenomenon is not disease‐Specific: cells from patients with multiple sclerosis react poorly also with cells from patients with arthritis. A time study of the reaction excludes the possibility of an initial Strong MLR followed by cell death – a phenomenon sometimes seen in animal experiments. A study of the affect ot patient sera on a two‐way MLR between normal individuals shows that a small depressive effect is present with the patient sera, but this is not of the magnitude that it can explain the MLR impairment under study.

The phagocytic activity of peripheral blood granulocytes was assayed in 12 normals, 7 cases of rheumatoid arthritis and 7 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus. Phagocytosis was indistinguishable in the normal group and the R. A. group. The phagocytic capacity of the granulocytes from the S. L. E. group was significantly lower than in the normal group and the R. A. group. Phagocytosis was not reduced when normal granulocytes were suspended in S. L. E. plasma. Nor did the activity of S. L. E. granulocytes increase in normal plasma. The lowest phagocytic indices found in the S.L.E. group tended to be associated with neutrocytopenia.

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It has been shown by Pekin and Zvaifler (1962) and by Hedberg and NordCn (1963) that the hemolytic complement (C') activity in synovial fluid from cases of rheumatoid arthritis was depressed in relation to control cases. The aim of the present investigation is to provide further clinical and laboratory data on an increased number of cases and also to compare different methods for estimating the synovial C' activity.The clinical material comprised 68 cases, 32 of which belonged to a series to be published in a preliminary report (Hedberg et al. 1964). With the exception of cases with lesions of the menisci, only cases with effusion of the knee joint(s) were studied. From the first-mentioned cases synovial fluid was drawn from the explored joint at operation. The cases labelled rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.) were selected mainly at random among in-patients and out-patients with effusion of the knee joint(s). All these cases, which were or had been admitted to the Department for Rheumatic Diseases, Lund University Hospital, were considered clinically active (as judged from tenderness of the joints, pains on motion, morning stiffness and joint swelling). As many cases as possible of uro-polyarthritis (definition by Olhagen, 1960), of psoriasis combined with arthritis, and of lesions of the menisci were included. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus ErythernatosusAt classification of the cases with arthritis the criteria proposed bi Ropes et al. (1958) were mainly followed. Joint symptoms had been -2 Scand J Rheumatol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by University of Newcastle Upon Tyne on 12/20/14For personal use only.