The effect of low doses of prednisolone on the traffic of T helper-inducer cells in rheumatoid arthritis.

The effects of a single dose of 5 and 10 mg of prednisolone on the kinetics of lymphocytes and T lymphocyte subsets were investigated in patients suffering from active rheumatoid arthritis. Six hours after intake of 10 mg of the drug a significant drop in total lymphocyte count, total T-cell numbers and T-helper cell numbers was recorded. The values returned to baseline values within 24 hours. Intake of 5 mg of prednisolone depressed total T-cell count and more particularly the absolute numbers of T-helper cells. No statistically significant changes occurred in T suppressor-cytotoxic cell traffics. The influence on the kinetics of T-helper cells was responsible for a significant decrease of helper/suppressor ratios in the intravascular compartment.