Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus value of laboratory criteria

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Abstract
Summary: Serum samples and skin specimens from twenty patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were studied for antinuclear antibodies, C3 and C4 levels, circulating immune complexes, B and T lymphocytes and lupus hand test. The patients were divided into three categories: Group I, six patients with inactive disease; Group II, eleven patients with mildly active disease without renal involvement; Group III, three patients with severely active disease and renal involvement. In Groups II and III, high levels of antinuclear antibodies, low C4 values, persistence of circulating immune complexes, reduction in T-lymphocyte number and positive lupus band test in uninvolved light exposed areas were usually associated with active lupus and tended to correlate with disease activity.