[Follow-up of immunological parameters and therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus]

In a longitudinal study of a female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, we determined numbers of T-lymphocytes and subpopulations (OKT4+- and OKT8+-lymphocytes), B-lymphocytes, production of anti-double-stranded DNA antibody (anti-ds-DNA-Ab), and we investigated the effects of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide on these parameters and clinical disease activity. The results demonstrate that an increase of OKT4+-T-lymphocytes/OKT8+-T-lymphocytes ratio apparently augments B-lymphocyte numbers resulting in anti-ds-DNA-Ab production. Whereas steroids exerted limited, possibly dose-dependent effects on this sequence, cyclophosphamide seemed to cause normalization of OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio, precipitous drop of anti-ds-DNA-Ab titers, and dramatic clinical improvement.