[Thymus in systemic lupus erythematosus]

The role of the thymus in pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus confirms that SLE is a severe autoimmune disease with T-suppressor insufficiency. The latter may be caused by both congenital factors (incompetence of thymic epithelial cells or interleucin-2 defect) and acquired in the course of the disease as a result of inactivation of the thymic hormones or thymic epithelial cells by circulating inhibitors. Measurements of serum thymic factor and evaluation of cellular immunity discovered thymus-dependent failure of antiinfection defense in SLE patients. Tactivin treatment produced a 3-fold increase in thymic activity.