Immunomodulating effect of human placenta-eluted gamma globulins in rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients who had active and severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated with human placenta-eluted gamma globulins (PEGG) composed of purified IgG eluted from trophoblastic cells. A control group of RA patients received retroplacental gamma globulins with no clinical effects. Seven of eleven treatments with PEGG showed good (4 patients) or very good (3 patients) clinical results. All patients had immunologic modifications demonstrated by a significant increase in active E-rosette-forming cells and mitogen responsiveness. The precise mechanism of immunomodulating effect of PEGG should be further investigated.