[The immunological characteristics of systemic vasculitis]

A total of 142 patients with systemic vasculitis (SV) during the phase of activation of the process were evaluated. Diagnosis was based on the clinical as well as laboratory, functional and morphologic findings. Immunological investigation revealed increase in T-lymphocyte effector activity, marked sensibilization of lymphocytes to the intimal antigen, hyperimmunocomplexemia, decline in phagocytosis, hypocomplementemia. Musculocutaneous biopsies showed fixation of IgG and the complement C3-component. For different SV variants agreed specific markers were determined. The results obtained permit objectivizing different immunotherapeutic alternatives in SV treatment.