THE STUDY OF ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES AND INTERLEUKIN-6 IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID AND BLOOD OF CHINESE PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS AND CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT

Anticardiolipin (ACL) antibodies and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cerebrosp inal fluid (CSF) may be involved in the mechanism of lupus patients wi th central nervous system (CNS) involvement. ACL antibodies of 3 isoty pes and IL-6 were measured in paired CSF and serum samples from 14 lup us patients with CNS involvement, 5 lupus patients without CNS involve ment and 7 patients with non-inflammatory neurological diseases. ACL a ntibodies, IgG and IgM isotypes, and IL-6 were significantly increased in CSF from lupus patients with CNS involvement as compared with othe r 2 groups of patients. Both ACL antibodies and IL-6 decreased after n eurological activity subsided. These results suggest increased ACL ant ibodies and IL-6 in CSF are involved in immune responses within CNS in lupus patients. Quantitation of CSF ACL antibodies may be helpful in evaluating neurological activity of lupus patients with CNS involvemen t.