The activating effect of synovial fluid and washings of synovial membrane on autologous lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

The effect of synovial fluid and washings of synovial membrane on autologous lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases has been studied using a rapid method based upon the increase in intranuclear birefringence occurring in the early stages of lymphocyte activation. Retardation of polarized light indicating increased lymphocyte activation was seen in lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis but not in lymphocytes from patients with other diseases.