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Ann Rheum Dis 1997;56:130-134 doi:10.1136/ard.56.2.130
  • Concise reports

Fasting enhances mucosal antigen specific B cell responses in rheumatoid arthritis

  1. C Trollmo,
  2. M Verdrengh,
  3. A Tarkowski
  1. Departments of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden
  1. C Trollmo, Department of Rheumatology, Guldhedsgatan 10A, S-413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
  • Accepted 15 October 1996

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of fasting on the antigen specific immune responsiveness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy volunteers.

METHODS Seven rheumatoid arthritis patients and 17 healthy volunteers were immunised perorally or parenterally with influenza virus vaccine after a three to six day long period of total energy deprivation (water fast). The subsequent antigen specific antibody mediated immune response was recorded in the blood at the single cell level by the elispot method.

RESULTS Short term starvation induced an enhanced antigen specific mucosa derived B lymphocyte response in rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy volunteers. In contrast, the systemic B cell responses were not significantly altered by a total energy deprivation.

CONCLUSIONS Short term starvation increases the mucosa derived B cell responsiveness, while systemic responsiveness is largely unaffected. The similar pattern of response in rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy volunteers indicates that fasting alters the mucosal immune response independently of medical treatment.

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