[The production of superoxide anion (O2-) by polymorphonuclear cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Superoxide anion production has been determined in controls and RA patients PMNs stimulated with zymosan, rheumatoid synovial membrane, nodule and synovial fluid, rheumatoid factor, aggregated gamma-globulins, Mycoplasma and Epstein-Barr virus. Patients with RA showed an increased production of O2- after incubation with zymosan and rheumatoid tissue extracts or synovial fluid in comparison to normal controls. The findings indicate that rheumatoid PMNs become activated by different stimuli to produce an excess of O2- which can contribute to chronic inflammatory process.