Lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies in pemphigus and systemic lupus erythematosus

Lymphocytotoxic autoantibody (LCTA) was studied in 9 patients with active pemphigus and 19 patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). All patients with SLE showed high titres of LCTA but only one patient with pemphigus had LCTA. In this paper we discuss the immunological significance of LCTA and the difference in the incidence of LCTA between pemphigus and SLE. In addition we present the clinical features of the case with LCTA-positive pemphigus and suggests that the presence of LCTA is due to the common viral infection.