FACS monitoring of lymphocyte-subsets in patients with discoid and subacute-cutaneous lupus erythematosus receiving low-dose methotrexate.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to describe and characterize the influence of low-dose methotrexate (MTX) treatment on absolute counts of peripheral blood cells and lymphocyte subsets in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE).


METHODS
In 6 patients with discoid (DLE) and 9 patients with subacute-cutaneous LE (SCLE) who received low-dose MTX (10-30 mg/week) leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets were monitored flowcytometrically.


RESULTS
Absolute numbers of leukocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, and lymphocyte subsets displayed cell-type specific patterns under low-dose MTX. Moreover, we found different reaction patterns in patients with DLE and SCLE. In patients with DLE leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes (p < 0.02), CD3+ cells (p < 0.04), CD3+ CD4+ cells (p < 0.009), and CD3+ CD8+ cells increase, and only B-cells decrease. Whereas in patients with SCLE no significant changes were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose MTX treatment seems to independently influence peripheral blood cell compartments and thereby the underlying LE manifestation could be of some relevance.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate