Reticuloendothelial function in rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with disease activity and circulating immune complexes.

Abstract

Fourteen patients with active rheumatoid arthritis had their reticuloendothelial function tested with clearance of heat damaged radiolabeled autologous erythrocytes. Only 3 of these 14 patients had prolonged red blood cell (RBC) clearance. No correlation was found between RBC clearance and level of circulating immune complexes, disease activity or disease duration.