Activity of some lysosomal enzyme in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

In order to study the function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients suffering from psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis vulgaris the release of beta-glucuronidase, elastase and cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase was investigated. The life of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis is shorter. Polymorphonuclears from patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis release, with as well as without phagocytic stimulation by zymosan, more lysosomal enzymes into extracellular space then cells of healthy controls. The total content of LDH and of lysosomal enzymes in leukocytes of patients suffering from all three forms of disease were not altered in comparison with the amount in PMNL of healthy subjects.