Disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

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.