METHYLPREDNISOLONE PULSE THERAPY INDUCED FALL IN NATURAL KILLER CELL ACTIVITY IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cell activity was studied in 8 patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by investigating the killing of K-562 cells by peripheral blood lymphocytes before, during and after i.v. methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPPT). MPPT produced a considerable fall in NK activity and after 3 mo. NK activity was less than half that before MPPT.