Monozygotic twins discordant for systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Abstract A pair of monozygotic twins discordant for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied and no differences noted in their immune response to tetanus toxoid, keyhole lympet hemocyanin, DNCB, delayed sensitivity, or antibody titers to viruses. Both were noted to have biologically false positive serology at an early age, but only one twin developed SLE. The clinically unaffected twin underwent castration at an early age, suggesting that ovarian hormones May‐June play an important role in the development of SLE.