[The role of the killer activity of the peripheral blood lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of rheumatism].

A total of 49 patients with rheumatism running a sluggish course, were examined, as were those with decompensated tonsillitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and 20 essentially healthy subjects. In inactive rheumatism an increase in the killer activity of lymphocytes and augmentation of amounts of Fc+lymphocytes were revealed, which values were significantly different from those in the other groups. The detected changes in the activity of lymphocytes may serve as differential-diagnostic criteria.