Relationship of the clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus to the presence of circulating lymphocytotoxic antibodies

Abstract

Abstract The presence of lymphocyte cytotoxic antibodies in sera from patients with SLE was related to the presence of fever and dermatologic, central nervous system and hematologic symptoms. Cytotoxic antibodies correlated inversely with the white blood count and serum complement C3. Possibly, the action of lymphocytotoxic antibodies on cell membranes may lead to complement‐mediated cell injury which, in turn, results in release of intracellular contents and nuclear antigens.