Felty's syndrome: case report and rationale for disease-suppressant immunosuppressive therapy.

A patient with Felty's syndrome complicated by severe infections, and characterized by marked hyperimmunoglobulinemia, circulating immune complexes, and high titers of rheumatoid factor is described. The clinical features, hematologic and immunologic abnormalities improved dramatically with steroids and were extended with gold therapy. Mechanisms of neutropenia and neutrophil dysfunction are discussed and a rationale for the treatment given.