Effect of plasmapheresis on cellular immunity abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The effect of plasmapheresis on cellular immunity was studied in 10 patients with active lupus erythematosus (SLE) by evaluating before and after treatment the percentage of E-rosette forming cells (E-RFC), the inhibitory effect of patients' sera on rosette formation by normal lymphocytes, the Con A-induced suppressor activity and T-cell subsets studied by means of monoclonal antibodies. After plasmapheresis a significant improvement was observed in E-rosette formation and in Con A-induced suppressor activity, along with a marked reduction in the inhibitory effect of patients' sera on rosette formation. No change was observed in the number and percentage of T-cell subsets. These findings suggest that plasmapheresis may remove some circulating factors responsible for the immunoregulatory T-cell dysfunction observed in patients with active SLE.