Lipsky P E
Harold C. Simmons Arthritis Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-8884.
J Rheumatol Suppl. 1992 Jan;32:92-4.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Recent advances have suggested that T cells play a critical role in the immunopathogenesis of RA. A variety of clinical trials using a number of monoclonal antibodies have confirmed the hypothesis that CD4+ T cells play a central role in propagating the disease. Moreover, these trials have suggested rational approaches for the treatment of RA in the future. Despite a comprehensive view of the immunopathogenic processes causing the manifestations of the disease, the underlying cause of RA remains unknown. Critical aspects of RA that might be important in the early diagnosis and prognosis of the disease remain to be delineated. These include the precise role of the association with gene products of the major histocompatibility complex and possibly the role of other genetic elements. In addition, there is no information concerning potential etiologic agents. Delineation of these issues should provide additional insight into RA and potential approaches to treatment and prevention.
类风湿性关节炎（RA）是一种病因不明的慢性炎症性疾病。最近的研究进展表明，T细胞在RA的免疫发病机制中起关键作用。多项使用多种单克隆抗体的临床试验证实了CD4 + T细胞在疾病传播中起核心作用这一假说。此外，这些试验还提出了未来治疗RA的合理方法。尽管对导致该疾病表现的免疫致病过程有全面的认识，但RA的根本原因仍然未知。RA在疾病早期诊断和预后中可能重要的关键方面仍有待阐明。这些方面包括与主要组织相容性复合体基因产物关联的确切作用以及其他遗传因素可能发挥的作用。此外，关于潜在病因尚无相关信息。对这些问题的阐明应能为RA以及潜在的治疗和预防方法提供更多见解。
