T lymphocyte subsets and antilymphocyte antibodies in lupus nephritis

T lymphocyte subsets were determined in 12 patients with untreated systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in 14 healthy controls. Six out of 8 (75%) patients with lupus nephritis had reduction in the percentage of T helper cells and low helper: suppressor cell ratios compared with controls. None of the 4 patients without nephritis had low ratios. Cold-reactive anti-lymphocyte antibodies cytotoxic to both the helper and the suppressor cells were detected in 7 of the 8 patients who had nephritis. Low T helper: suppressor cell ratio in SLE seems to correlate with the presence of active nephritis.