Clinical and laboratory markers of immune dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their blood relatives

Aim. To ascertain clinical and laboratory signs of immune disorders in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), their healthy blood relatives and healthy females without autoimmune disease family history. Material and methods. Immune status was studied in 66 RA patients, their 56 female relatives of the first and 10 female relatives of the second degree of kinship, 63 healthy females without family history of autoimmune disorders. Immune response was assessed conventionally. Results. 87.5% relatives of the first degree had symptoms of immune dysfunction (control -50.8%). Combinations of immunopathological syndromes were registered in 41.1% examinees of this group (control - 17.5%). Autoimmune syndrome was most frequent (64.3%, control - 19516). Infectious syndrome occurred in 51.8% relatives and 33.3% controls (the difference is significant). Despite immunosuppressive therapy, occurrence of infectious syndrome in RA (18.6%) was much lower than in controls. It was found that before RA onset 81.4% patients suffered from frequent long-term infections. RA onset reduced the infections frequency. Allergy was in 12.5, 19 and 62% of the relatives, controls and patients, respectively. The relatives demonstrated a significant decline of compliment activity close to such in patients. Conclusion. Immune disorders in blood relatives of women suffering from RA are more frequent and severe than in women without autoimmune disorders in family history. However, subclinical immunopathological symptoms in them did not realize in certain disease during the observation period. This may be explained by weaker congenital defects of immune system functioning or the existence of compensatory mechanisms suppressing development of pathological autoimmune processes.