Defects in pokeweed mitogen (PWM) induced immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis by lymphocytes of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

In vitro pokeweed mitogen (PWM) induced immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis by lymphocytes of 33 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) was assessed and the results were correlated with clinical characteristics and laboratory measurements of disease activity. Comparisons with results of lymphocytes from adult controls and age related controls, greater than or equal to 12 years, showed reduced responses in patients with JRA. Low responders had significantly higher sedimentation rates (p = .0052) and platelet counts (p = .033), than patients with normal results. No correlations with onset subtype, medications, or age were found. These findings suggest a reduction in in vitro PWM induced B cell differentiation in patients with JRA, which may be related to disease activity.