Studies in Cutaneous Immunofluorescence

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Abstract
Patients (20) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had a biopsy taken from clinically normal skin. These were examined for histological and immunological abnormalities and were compared to those of 8 patients with osteoarthritis (OA). No lupus band linear deposition of Ig or complement at the dermo-epodermal interface was seen in any patient in either group. Perivascular deposits were seen in 5 of 20 (25%) patients with RA. These were of IgM in all 5 cases with additional C3 in 2 cases (10%) and additional fibrin in 1 case (5%). No immunoprotein deposits were seen in specimens from OA patients. Of 5 patients with perivascular immunoprotein deposits 4 had circulating antinuclear antibody present and dilutions .gtoreq. 1/256 but normal DNA binding. A sparse perivascular, predominantly lymphocytic infiltrate was seen in 13 of 20 (65%) patients with RA and 3 of 8 (35%) with OA.