Intraarticular T lymphocytes in monoarticular and oligoarticular inflammatory joint diseases. Normal subset distribution and less numbers of activated T cells indicate major differences as compared to rheumatoid arthritis.

T lymphocyte subpopulations and the expression of T cell activation antigens were determined in peripheral blood, synovial fluid and/or synovial tissues of patients with recurring monoarticular arthritis and patients with HLA-B27 associated oligoarthritis in comparison to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In individuals with monoarthritis or oligoarthritis, there was a normal T cell subset distribution, both in peripheral blood and in intraarticular sites, with only a small number of T cells bearing Ia antigens. This was in marked contrast to the patient group with RA that demonstrated a significantly decreased ratio of T helper/inducer to T suppressor/cytotoxic cells in addition to large numbers of Ia+ T cells in intraarticular sites. The expression of the Tac antigen was similar in all disease groups.