[Pan T, T4 and T8-positive lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

In a group of 23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus by means of monoclonal antibodies differentiation markers were investigated on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes. Individual specific differences in the percentage of T1-, T3-, T4- and T8-positive cells were found, indicating various possibilities of immunological disorders in this disease. Furthermore, in comparison with healthy donors, an increased number of T4-, T8-double stained cells was detected in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Normally, this cell phenotype can be detected in the thymus only. Therefore, it becomes necessary to perform parallel and simultaneous determinations, respectively, of several T cell markers in order to gain a more exact insight into the disturbances of the immune system and to exclude incorrect interpretations of the phenotypical distribution of T cell markers.