Role of peripheral CD8 lymphocytes and soluble IL-2 receptor in predicting the duration of corticosteroid treatment in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis.

Abstract

Objectives-To determine if the presence of low percentages of CD8 positive cells or high levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) define a subgroup of patients with more severe polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis (PMR/GCA). Methods-38 PMR/GCA patients were followed up prospectively. Serum levels of sIL-2R and peripheral blood CD8 lymphocytes were measured before the start of corticosteroid treatment, after six months of treatment and at the last visit. Phenotypical analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations was performed with a two colour technique, and assay of sIL-2R was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit. Forty four healthy people matched for age and gender comprised a healthy control group. Results-The median duration of follow up was 28 months (range 7-65). Corticosteroid treatment lasted a median of 23-5 months

Serum Amyloid A as a Potent Therapeutic Marker in a Refractory Patient with Polymyalgia Rheumatica

“…Several reports have demonstrated that CD8 + T cells are decreased, and CD4 + and naive (CD4 + CD45RA + ) T cells are increased in the active phase of PMR on flow cytometry (18)(19)(20). The present patient also showed improvement of clinical symptoms in parallel with an increase in CD8 + CD25 + cells and a decrease in CD4 + CD25 + cells and CD4 + CD45RA + cells.…”

HLA-DRB1 alleles associated with polymyalgia rheumatica in northern Italy: correlation with disease severity

“…The longer duration of corticosteroid treatment observed in women by Chuang et al 23 has not been confirmed by other studies 910 A reduced percentage of CD8 cells after six months of treatment has also been proposed as a useful outcome parameter 24. However, Corrigall et al found that the %CD8 T cell was not a good indicator of disease activity 25…”

Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory T cells in giant cell arteritis

“…In general, <5% of tissue-infiltrating cells are CD8 + (31, 32). Reports more than 25 years ago had alerted the community to a selective loss of circulating CD8 T cells, both in percentage and absolute numbers (33–36), with activation markers expressed on remaining CD8 T cells (37). The recent study by Samson et al confirms the polyclonal stimulation of CD8 T cells and points towards higher representation of tissue CD8 T cells in cases of more severe vasculitis (31).…”