Clinical Significance of the L.E.-cell Phenomenon in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Clinical analyses of the following groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are presented: 22 patients with L. E.-cells; 41 patients with a negative L. E.-cell test; 22 patients who had no test performed. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and L.E.-cells were remarkably similar to those in the 2 control groups with regard to inflammation of joints, duration of arthritis, and presence of subcutaneous nodules. Systemic involvement of any sort was remarkably infrequent in all groups of patients and occurred no more frequently in those with L.E.-cells than in the rest. Leucopenia was more frequent, and the mean white blood cell count was lower in the patients with L.E.-cells. Also, the mean serum globulin level was higher in this group. These were the only statistically significient differences observed and were of small magnitude. It would appear from these data that there is little justification on clinical grounds for considering rheumatoid arthritis with L.E.-cells to be either an entity distinct from rheumatoid arthritis, or a variant of systemic lupus erythematosus.