Correlation Study Between T Lymphocyte Subsets and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on rheumatoid arthritis and T-lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to provide a new method for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by removing Helicobacter pylori from patients. Methods: 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis admitted to the hospital from May 2022 to May 2023 were selected for the study, and all patients underwent a 13-carbon urea breath test to detect gastric H. pylori and the test results showed that 20 cases were negative and 40 cases were positive. The 40 positive patients were divided into the treatment group (n = 20) and non-treatment group (n = 20) by random number table method and the treatment group was given anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment, and the non-treatment group was given maintenance rheumatoid basic treatment, comparing the anti-cyclic citrulline peptide (CCP), DS28 score, peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4⁺ T-lymphocytes, CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio) before and after the treatment of patients by 13-carbon urea respiration test (pylori-negative group, 20 patients) and those who were positive for the treatment of H pylori (pylori-positive group, 40 patients). Besides, the correlation of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets and disease activity between treatment and non-treatment groups in the pylori-positive group was identified together with the correlation of DS28 scores, TNF-α levels, sedimentation and immunoglobulin, lymphocyte subsets in the pylori-positive treatment group and positive non-treatment group as well as the level of globulin, lymphocyte subsets, and peripheral blood lymphocytes before and after treatment. Results: Before treatment, CCP, DS28 score, CD8⁺ T lymphocyte level of the pylori-negative group were lower than that of the positive group, and CD4⁺ T lymphocyte and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were higher than that of the positive group (P < 0.05); after treatment, the indexes of the pylori-positive group improved, and there was no significant difference in the comparison of the indexes with those of the pylori-negative group (P > 0.05); the positive treatment group had a DS28 (3.19 ± 1.02) points, positive non-treatment group DS28 (5.36 ± 1.85) points, non-treatment group DS28 score and CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ negative correlation with CD8⁺ T lymphocytes showed a positive correlation (P < 0.05); before the treatment, pylori-positive treatment group and non-treatment group DS28 scores, TNF-α levels, peripheral blood T lymphocyte subpopulation levels were not significantly different (P > 0.05); after treatment, DS28 score, TNF-α level, CD8⁺ T of the treatment group were lower than those of the non-treatment group, and CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were higher than those of the non-treatment group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: H. pylori affects the level of T lymphocyte subsets in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and there is a certain correlation between the two. Removal of H. pylori can improve the level of T lymphocyte subsets, which is important for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.