Studies on the etiology and therapy of Sjögren's syndrome Part 1. Erythrophagocytic activity of peripheral blood monocytes in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

The erythrophagocytic activity of peripheral blood monocytes in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) was investigated by using 51Cr-labelled SRBC sensitized with anti-SRBC antibody (IgG). The phagocytic activity of monocytes in patients with SjS alone was similar to that in healthy adults. On the other hand, the phagocytic activity of monocytes in patients with SjS associated with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis was lower than that in healty adults. There was no significant correlation, however, between phagocytic activity and several clinical parameters such as serum rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum complement level or the doses of prednisolone administered.