Failure todetect brain reactivity oflymphocytotoxins incerebral lupus

SUMMARY Lymphocytotoxic activity (LCA)wasexamined intheseraof29patients withsystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including eight with cerebral involvement. LCAwaselevated in80%ofsamples andwassignificantly higher inthegroupwithcerebral disease (P<0-001). No correlations wereobserved between LCA andimmunecomplexes or complement components. Serafrom10patients (six withcerebral SLE)wereabsorbed with homogenates ofnormal humanfrontal cortex andliver using protein standards tocontrol fordilutional effects. Noserumsample showed selective depletion ofLCAfollowing incubation withbrain homogenate. Itisconcluded that nosingle parameter, including brain absorption ofLCA,iseffective inmonitoring disease activity incerebral lupus.