EFFECT OF STEROID TREATMENT ON THE MIGRATION BEHAVIOR OF NEUTROPHILS IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The influence of methylprednisolone on the migratory characteristics o f neutrophil granulocytes was investigated in 10 patients with early r heumatoid arthritis (RA) and compared to 12 controls. The migration of neutrophils was measured with a whole-blood membrane filter assay wit h and without stimulation by the chemoattractant N-formyl-methionyl-le ucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Total migration index (TMI), distribution c haracteristics (DC) and the product of TMI and DC (neutrophil migrator y activity; NMA) served to characterize the migratory behaviour of neu trophils. The data demonstrated an increased polymorphonuclear leucocy te (PMN) migration in patients with early RA, indicating a bystander r ole of PMNs in inflammatory joint injury. Treatment with methylprednis olone reduced significantly the penetration depth (DC) of neutrophils, but did not influence the number of migrating cells (TMI). The unstim ulated NMA was significantly reduced due to the marked DC reduction, w hereas steroids did not influence the stimulated NMA of neutrophils. A significant reduction in PMN penetration depth was demonstrated only after a steroid therapy of at least 10 days, suggesting that a longer period of steroid therapy is necessary to provide effective inflammato ry control.