title: Effect of plasmapheresis on cellular immunity abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology