Antinuclear Factors in Chronic Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

The relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.) and chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (C.D.L.E.) has not been investigated adequately. In the past there has been a tendency of some to consider C.D.L.E. and S.L.E. as somewhat separate diseases. However, in recent years there appears to be more evidence clinically, to consider these 2 conditions as different manifestations of the same disease.¹While the lupus erythematosus (L.E.) cell test is positive in many S.L.E. patients, it is almost uniformly negative in C.D.L.E.^2,3The L.E. factor responsible for the L.E. cell formation is one of the numerous autoantibody-like factors present in the sera of S.L.E. patients which are directed against the nuclei. Detection of the L.E. factors by using the L.E. cell-formation methods does not appear to be sensitive enough for 2 major reasons: First the L.E. cell formation is a complex event involving in vitro phagocytic activity of white blood