Vaccination with vicilin in systemic lupus erythematosus

Vaccination with a vegetal protein--vicilin--was performed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antitissue autoantibodies (vessel, myocardium, striated muscle, liver, lung, kidney) were determined before and after vaccination. It was observed that the titer of these autoantibodies decreased gradually after vaccination down to total disappearance from the circulation. Local and general reaction after vaccination was also followed in comparison with a control group (subjects without SLE). The local reaction and the general phenomena were found to be of lesser intensity in the SLE patients. It is emphasized that after vaccination the general state of the SLE patients was improved. It is assumed that vicilin interferes in the pathogeny of disease by competitive nonspecific immune mechanisms which reduce the autoaggressive processes, by immunosuppressive mechanisms or other mechanisms which have a favourable effect on the evolution of disease. These observations should be further investigated using clinical and laboratory parameters for a better estimation of the favourable effect observed.