Interferon production by lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

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Abstract
Interferon produced by lymphocytes from 23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was assayed and compared with that of 14 normal controls. No significant difference was found between lupus patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and controls nor did titers of interferon correlate with disease activity, immunoglobulin or C3 levels, presence of antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, or hepatitis B antigenemia. Presence of probable viral particles and of increased viral antibody titers in patients with lupus erythematosus cannot be explained by a decreased production of interferon by their lymphocytes.