[Cytotoxic antibodies to thymocyte antigens in rheumatism and other diseases].

Cytotoxic antibodies reacting with mouse and human thymocytes were detected in rheumatic patients' sera. The level of cytotoxic antibodies was considerably higher in active than in inactive process. A correlation was found between the antibody level and the clinical course of rheumatic fever. The cytotoxic index was the highest in sera of patients with acute rheumatic fever. Thymocytotoxic antibodies were also found in other autoimmune diseases. In sera of normal individuals, antibodies to thymocytes were revealed rarely and in small quantities. A possible role of thymocytotoxic antibodies as a cause of deficit of T suppressors in autoimmune diseases is discussed.